Investigation of the effects of diesel-fusel oil fuel blends on combustion, engine performance and exhaust emissions in a single cylinder compression ignition engine

Increasing harmful effects of global warming, consumption of energy and depletion of fossil-based fuels have directed the researches on alternative fuels such as ethanol, methanol, natural gas for compression ignition engines. Among these fuels, alcohols are preferred due to their advantages such as oxygen content, renewable fuel and availability by biomass sources. Fusel oil is obtained as a by-product in ethanol production and it has no usage area and no value for the economy of the country. In this study, pure diesel and fusel oil were mixed in certain proportions. The effects of test fuels on combustion, engine performance and exhaust emissions were examined comprehensively at different engine loads and speeds. In the calculation of heat release rate single-zone combustion model and the first thermodynamics were used. At full load operating conditions similar pressure traces were obtained with F5 and F10 compared to diesel. Specific fuel consumptions were calculated as 201.3, 240.1 and 261.9 g/kWh at 2200 rpm with the usage of diesel, F5 and F10 fuels respectively. In addition, it was determined that as the ratio of fusel oil in the blend increased, CO emissions increased according to the pure diesel operation and smoke and NOx emissions decreased.