Operating Range, Performance and Emissions of an HCCI Engine Fueled with Fusel Oil/Diethyl Ether: An Experimental Study

Abstract

The main disadvantages of HCCI engines are the knocking tendency at high engine loads, the challenge of the start of the combustion, control of the combustion phase, and the narrow operating range. In this study, we aimed to control the combustion processes in HCCI engines and to expand their working range by improving the fuel properties of fusel oil by the addition of diethyl ether. Thus, the variations in the in-cylinder pressure, rate of heat release, indicated mean effective pressure, start of combustion, combustion duration, CA50, indicated thermal efficiency, mean pressure rise rate, hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions were investigated. It was observed that the in-cylinder pressure and rate of heat release were taken into advance and the test engine could be operated for a wider range by increasing the diethyl ether ratio in the blend. The indicated mean effective pressure increased by 67.5% with DEE40 fuel compared to the DEE80. Under the same operating conditions, HC and CO emissions decreased by 41.6% and 56.2%, in use of DEE40. Furthermore, the highest indicated thermal efficiency was obtained as 42.5% with DEE60 fuel. Maximum hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions were observed with DEE80 fuel as 0.532% and 549 ppm, respectively.