Effects on ring wear of bioethanol/diesel fuel blends used at long term endurance tests in a DI engine

Abstract

In this study, the long-term endurance tests were carried out in a diesel engine that used diesel and 90% diesel + 10% bioethanol fuels. The spray and temperature distributions of two different fuels in the AVL FIRE program also were examined. Tribological and morphological analysis of piston rings were investigated in a single-cylinder direct injection diesel engine using two different fuel types. The test engine used two different fuel types and was operated for approximately 110 hours under part engine load. Renewed rings in each fuelled engine operation were analyzed at Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Results were also compared with the non-worked piston ring. Analysis results saw that abrasive wear was more intense on the first rings at both fuel types. Examining the effect of biofuels on engine wears, short wear lines were found at engine rings using diesel/bioethanol blend fuel compared to diesel fuel. It was being determined that this situation was a result of combustion parameters (such as pressure, and temperature) created with the different fuels used in diesel engines. As a result, that bioethanol has a content of low carbon (C) compared to diesel fuel, making a positive contribution to the reduction of ring wear.