Effect of ABE and butanol blends with n-dodecane in different volume ratios on diesel combustion and soot characteristics in ECN spray a conditions

This study investigates the feasibility of using Acetone-Butanol-Ethanol mixture (ABE) as a function of the volumetric ratios (20 %v, 30 %v, 40 %v, 50 %v blended with n-dodecane) in order to determine the most suitable ABE ratio for CI engines in comparison to a butanol/n-dodecane blend. The New One Shot Engine set-up was used to determine the lift-off length (LOL), ignition delay (ID) and soot concentration by means of OH* chem-iluminescence and Diffused Back Illumination imaging at an ambient pressure and temperature of 60 bar and 900 K corresponding to ECN Spray-A conditions. It was found that ID and LOL increased, while soot concen-tration was reduced with the increase in concentration of ABE and Butanol in dodecane blends. The blends with the smallest content (20%) of ABE or Bu exhibited similar combustion characteristics to n-dodecane with a considerable reduction in soot, indicating that these blends can be considered as a Diesel substitute without any engine modifications.

Automated summary

This study explores the potential use of ABE mixture as an alternative fuel for CI engines. The experiment showed that increasing the ABE and Butanol concentration in the blends led to a longer ignition delay and lift-off length, as well as a decrease in soot concentration. The blends with the lowest ABE or Butanol content exhibited similar combustion characteristics to n-dodecane, making them suitable substitutes for diesel without any engine modifications.