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Experimental study on ignition characteristic of gasoline-biodiesel blended fuel in a constant-volume chamber

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Abstract

A detailed experimental study on gasoline biodiesel fuel (GB) blends was conducted to investigate its ignition and combustion characteristics under low-temperature range using an optically accessible constant volume combustion chamber (CVCC). The fuel samples were four GB blends including GB20, GB40, GB60 and GB80 corresponding to 20 %, 40 %, 60 %, and 80 % volumetric biodiesel respectively, neat gasoline, and neat biodiesel. Fuel samples were injected into the CVCC to combust using a single-hole research-grade injector. Natural soot luminous images from the combustible flame were captured by a CMOS camera to determine the ignition delay and the flame lift-off length. The ignition delay was also obtained by analyzing pressure traces from a high-frequency piezoelectric pressure transducer. The results regarding the ignition process for the pressure-based and luminosity-based ignition delays showed that both approaches presented similar tendencies. However, the pressure-based ignition delay is always a little longer than the luminosity-based ignition delay. The difference between the two definitions of ignition delay tends to decrease with the longer ignition delay or the enhanced mixing, and vice versa. As lower 60 % biodiesel fractions, the increase of biodiesel significantly reduced ignition delay and produced a lower maximum peak of heat release rate. The combustion characteristic of blend with a higher 60 % biodiesel is almost similar to pure biodiesel. In general, lift-off length lengthens with an increase in biodiesel because of its high viscosity and high surface tension. However, for the 750 K case, the lift-off length decreases due to a rapidly reduced ignition delay with the increase in biodiesel fraction (less than 60 % biodiesel). Based on experimental data, the moderate biodiesel addition (less than 20 %) can improve the ability of cold-engine starting, also solve engine misfire under low-load-condition operation due to its flammability while maintaining advantages of gasoline with great volatility and high ignition delay which significantly enhance the mixture formation process.

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Abbreviations

GB :

Gasoline-biodiesel

CVCC :

Constant volume combustion chamber

GB20 :

Gasoline-biodiesel blend with 20 % biodiesel

GB40 :

Gasoline-biodiesel blend with 40 % biodiesel

GB60 :

Gasoline-biodiesel blend with 60 % biodiesel

GB80 :

Gasoline-biodiesel blend with 80 % biodiesel

CMOS :

Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor

HRR :

Heat release rate

CI :

Combustion ignition

NOx :

Nitrogen oxide

THC :

Total hydrocarbons

HC :

Hydrocarbons

CO :

Carbon monoxide

PM :

Particulate matter

RCCI :

Reactivity controlled compression ignition

HCCI :

Homogeneous charge compression ignition mode

GCI :

Gasoline compression ignition

EGR :

Exhaust gas recirculation

ICCD :

Intensified charge-coupled device

C 2 H 2 :

Acetylene

Ar :

Argon

N 2 :

Nitrogen

O 2 :

Oxygen

RON :

Research octane number

MON :

Motor octane number

ECN :

Engine combustion network

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Acknowledgments

This research was financially supported by the CEFV (Center for Environmentally Friendly Vehicle) as Global-Top Project of KMOE (2016002070009, Development of Engine System and Adapting Vehicle for Model 110cc and 300cc Correspond to EUERO-5 Emission), and following are results of a study on the “Leaders in Industry-University Cooperation +” Project, supported by the Ministry of Education and National Research Foundation of Korea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ulsan, Ulsan, 44610, Korea

    Dinh Nam Vu

  2. School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ulsan, Ulsan, 44610, Korea

    Ocktaeck Lim

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  1. Dinh Nam Vu
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Correspondence to Ocktaeck Lim.

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Recommended by Associate Editor Jeong Park

Ocktaeck Lim received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Chonnam National University, Korea, in 1998 and 2002, respectively. He then received his Ph.D. degree from Keio University in 2006. Dr. Lim is currently a Professor at the School of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering at University of Ulsan in Ulsan, Korea. Dr. Lim’s research interests include Internal Combustion Engines, Alternative Fuel and Thermodynamics.

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Vu, D.N., Lim, O. Experimental study on ignition characteristic of gasoline-biodiesel blended fuel in a constant-volume chamber. J Mech Sci Technol 33, 5073–5083 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-019-0946-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-019-0946-1

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