Characteristics of ultrafine particle emission from light-vehicle engine at city transport-speed using after-treatment device fueled with n-butanol-hydrogen blend

Abstract

In recent times, the extinction of fossil fuel resources and emission of harmful pollutants have persuaded the researchers to obtain alternative and renewable fuels. Consequently, in the present experimentation, a ternary fuel blend was acquired and analysed in a modified turbocharged gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine as a feasible alternative to neat fossil fuel. Experiments were carried out using a blend of 8% n-butanol and 8% mass fraction of hydrogen with gasoline fuel at city transport speed mode under stoichiometric and air-fuel ratio of 1.0. Butanol and hydrogen were blended with the gasoline due to their satisfying thermodynamic properties and combustion reactivity. The result shows gradual reduction of particles emitted with n-BH16 by 1.06 × 1011 particles/hr as compared to n-BH00 at 1.89 × 1012 particles/hr. For all fuels, the smallest particles measured by Engine Exhaust Particle Sizer (EEPS) were no longer detectable at phase 2 from 548 s to ~789 s due to low concentrations. However, the gaseous emission of the n-BH16 fueled engine varies with 28 g/kW.h decrement in fuel consumption (FC), while increasing hydrocarbon (HC) emission. As a result, ultra-particles decreased in nucleation mode, which in-turn lead to minimum combustion duration and cylinder gas pressure. Adaptation of n-BH16 fuel blend in light-duty GDI engines might serve as a potential to meet the new particulate emission regulations and improve toxic air contaminant.

Keywords

• Alternative fuel
• Particle pollutants
• GDI engine
• Combustion reactivity
• Gaseous emissions