Experimental investigation of the effects of using n-butanol-diesel fuel blends on engine performance and exhaust emissions in a turbocharged diesel engine

In the present study, the effects of n-butanol-diesel fuel blends (nBDFBs) on the engine performance and exhaust emissions have been investigated in a Renault K9K 700 type turbocharged automobile diesel engine which has common-rail injection system. Experiments have been performed for (2, 4 ve 6) % (by vol.) n-butanol ratios at different engine speeds and loads. Also, the effects of injecting of n-butanol at ratios of (2, 4 and 6) % (by vol.) into intake air (n-butanol fumigation) on the engine performance and exhaust emissions have been investigated at 2000 rpm for two different engine loads and the obtained results have been compared to the nBDFBs results.The test results showed that engine characteristics and nitrogen oxide emission (NOx) improve for (2 and 4) % nBDFBs at selected engine speeds and loads. However they deteriorate for 6 % nBDFB. 2 % nBDFB was determined as the most suitable blend for engine characteristics and NOx. For this blend, for instance at 2500 rpm, brake specific fuel consumption and NOx reduce at the levels of 0.57 % and 0.31 % respectively and also effective efficiency increase at the level of 1.01 % for chosen engine loads. Smoke index K reduce for (2, 4 and 6) % nBDFBs at all of the selected engine speeds. At 2500 rpm, maximum decrement of K smoke index has been obtained at the levels of 17.38 %, 25.16 %, 20.97 % respectively for (2, 4 and 6) % nBDFBs. At 2000 rpm, NOx emission and smoke index K decrease respectively at the levels of 7.13 % and % 11.33 for (2 and 4) % n-butanol fumigation ratios without occurring any significant variation in engine characteristics.Key Words: Turbocharged diesel engine, n-Butanol-diesel fuel blends, n-Butanol fumigation, Engine characteristics, NOx emission, Smoke index K