Experimental Investigation of the Performance and Unburned Methanol, Formaldehyde, and Carbon Dioxide Emissions of a Methanol-Diesel Dual-Fuel Engine
Publication: Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 149, Issue 3
Abstract
In the context of global efforts to pursue carbon neutrality, the methanol-diesel reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) combustion has become a promising strategy for diesel engines to reduce emissions with higher thermal efficiency. To further improve the fuel economy of the methanol–diesel RCCI engine and reduce its unregulated emissions, the effects of methanol substitution rate (MSR) and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) on fuel economy, , MeOH, and H-CHO emissions at different engine speed and load conditions were tested. The conversion efficiency of a conventional diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) in oxidizing the unregulated emissions under the World Harmonized Steady-State Cycle (WHSC) was also evaluated. The results showed that running the engine in methanol-diesel RCCI mode can significantly improve fuel economy at medium to high loads [greater than 1.18 MPa brake mean effective pressure (BMEP)]. The equivalent brake specific fuel consumption (ESFC) in the RCCI mode was lower than that of the baseline CDC mode, and the utilization of EGR can further improved fuel economy at lower load conditions. The MeOH and H-CHO emissions increased as the MSR increased, and they decreased as the load level and EGR rate increased. The emissions decreased as the MSR increased, but they increased as the EGR rate increased. The conversion efficiencies of DOC for MeOH, H-CHO and aromatic hydrocarbons (AHC) were around 93%, 84%, and 61%, respectively, under the WHSC test. Exhaust after-treatment by DOC is an effective solution to reduce unburned MeOH and H-CHO from methanol-diesel dual-fuel engines, and to extend RCCI operating range.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Major Science and Technology Projects in Yunnan Province (Project No. 202103AA080002) and National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for College Students (Project No. 2021106740023).
References
Agarwal, A. K., P. C. Shukla, C. Patel, J. G. Gupta, N. Sharma, R. K. Prasad, and R. A. Agarwal. 2016. “Unregulated emissions and health risk potential from biodiesel (KB5, KB20) and methanol blend (M5) fuelled transportation diesel engines.” Renewable Energy 98 (Dec): 283–291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2016.03.058.
Azad, A. K., M. G. Rasul, M. M. K. Khan, S. S. Sharma, and M. M. K. Bhuiya. 2016. “Recent development of biodiesel combustion strategies and modelling for compression ignition engines.” Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 56 (Apr): 1068–1086. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.12.024.
Chen, D. D., T. Wang, T. T. Yang, G. X. Li, Y. Chen, and T. Y. Qiao. 2022. “Effects of EGR combined with DOC on emission characteristics of a two-stage injected Fischer-Tropsch diesel/methanol dual-fuel engine.” Fuel 329 (Dec): 125451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2022.125451.
Duraisamy, G., M. Rangasamy, and N. Govindan. 2020. “A comparative study on methanol/diesel and methanol/PODE dual fuel RCCI combustion in an automotive diesel engine.” Renewable Energy 145 (Jan): 542–556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2019.06.044.
Geng, P., H. Zhang, S. Yang, and C. Yao. 2015. “Comparative study on measurements of formaldehyde emission of methanol/gasoline fueled SI engine.” Fuel 148 (May): 9–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2015.01.075.
Gong, C., L. Peng, Y. Chen, J. Liu, F. Liu, and Y. Q. Han. 2018. “Computational study of intake temperature effects on mixture formation, combustion and unregulated emissions of a DISI methanol engine during cold start.” Fuel 234 (Dec): 1269–1277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2018.08.018.
Government of China. 2020. “China Standard HJ 1137-2020.” Accessed November 10, 2020. https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywgz/fgbz/bz/bzwb/dqhjbh/dqydywrwpfbz/202011/t20201113_807830.shtml.
Huang, F. L., M. S. Tian, M. D. Wan, L. Z. Shen, and J. L. Lei. 2021. “Effects of excess air coefficient on non-regulated emissions of diesel/methanol RCCI engines.” Trans. Chin. Soc. Agric. Eng. 37 (8): 52–61. https://doi.org/10.11975/j.issn.1002-6819.2021.08.006.
Jia, Z., and I. Denbratt. 2018. “Experimental investigation into the combustion characteristics of a methanol-Diesel heavy duty engine operated in RCCI mode.” Fuel 226 (Aug): 745–753. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2018.03.088.
Kim, H., M. Byun, B. Lee, and H. Lim. 2022. “Carbon-neutral methanol synthesis as carbon dioxide utilization at different scales: Economic and environmental perspectives.” Energy Convers. Manage. 252 (Jan): 115119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2021.115119.
Kokjohn, S. L., R. M. Hanson, D. A. Splitter, and R. D. Reitz. 2011. “Fuel reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI): A pathway to controlled high-efficiency clean combustion.” Int. J. Engine Res. 12 (3): 209–226. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468087411401548.
Li, Y., M. Jia, Y. Chang, W. Fan, M. Xie, and T. Wang. 2015. “Evaluation of the necessity of exhaust gas recirculation employment for a methanol/diesel reactivity controlled compression ignition engine operated at medium loads.” Energy Convers. Manage. 101 (Sep): 40–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2015.05.041.
Li, Y., M. Jia, Y. Chang, M. Xie, and R. D. Reitz. 2016. “Towards a comprehensive understanding of the influence of fuel properties on the combustion characteristics of a RCCI (reactivity controlled compression ignition) engine.” Energy 99 (Mar): 69–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2016.01.056.
Li, Z., Y. Wang, Z. Yin, Z. Gao, Y. Wang, and X. Zhen. 2021. “To achieve high methanol substitution ratio and clean combustion on a diesel/methanol dual fuel engine: A comparison of diesel methanol compound combustion (DMCC) and direct dual fuel stratification (DDFS) strategies.” Fuel 304 (Nov): 121466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.121466.
Liu, J., C. Gong, L. Peng, F. Liu, X. Yu, and Y. Li. 2017. “Numerical study of formaldehyde and unburned methanol emissions of direct injection spark ignition methanol engine under cold start and steady state operating conditions.” [In Chinese.] Fuel 202 (Aug): 405–413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2017.04.059.
Liu, J., Z. Liu, L. Wang, P. Wang, P. Sun, H. Ma, and P. Wu. 2022a. “Numerical simulation and experimental investigation on pollutant emissions characteristics of PODE/methanol dual-fuel combustion.” Fuel Process. Technol. 231 (Jun): 107228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2022.107228.
Liu, J., H. Ma, W. Liang, J. Yang, P. Sun, X. Wang, Y. Wang, and P. Wang. 2022b. “Experimental investigation on combustion characteristics and influencing factors of PODE/methanol dual-fuel engine.” Energy 260 (Dec): 125131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2022.125131.
Luján, J. M., H. Climent, R. Novella, and M. E. Rivas-Perea. 2015. “Influence of a low pressure EGR loop on a gasoline turbocharged direct injection engine.” Appl. Therm. Eng. 89 (Oct): 432–443. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2015.06.039.
Ma, B., A. Yao, C. Yao, W. Wang, and Y. Ai. 2021. “Numerical investigation and experimental validation on the leakage of methanol and formaldehyde in diesel methanol dual fuel engine with different valve overlap.” Appl. Energy 300 (Oct): 117355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.117355.
Pan, W., C. Yao, G. Han, H. Wei, and Q. Wang. 2015. “The impact of intake air temperature on performance and exhaust emissions of a diesel methanol dual fuel engine.” Fuel 162 (Dec): 101–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2015.08.073.
Panda, K., and A. Ramesh. 2022. “Parametric investigations to establish the potential of methanol based RCCI engine and comparison with the conventional dual fuel mode.” Fuel 308 (Jan): 122025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.122025.
Rakopoulos, D. C., C. D. Rakopoulos, E. G. Giakoumis, and G. M. Kosmadakis. 2021. “Numerical and experimental study by quasi-dimensional modeling of combustion and emissions in variable compression ratio high-speed spark-ignition engine.” J. Energy Eng. 147 (5): 04021032. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EY.1943-7897.0000780.
Rakopoulos, D. C., C. D. Rakopoulos, E. G. Giakoumis, and R. G. Papagiannakis. 2018. “Evaluating oxygenated fuel’s influence on combustion and emissions in diesel engines using a two-zone combustion model.” J. Energy Eng. 144 (4): 04018046. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EY.1943-7897.0000556.
Rakopoulos, D. C., C. D. Rakopoulos, G. M. Kosmadakis, and E. G. Giakoumis. 2020. “Exergy assessment of combustion and EGR and load effects in DI diesel engine using comprehensive two-zone modeling.” Energy 202 (Jul): 117685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2020.117685.
Reitz, R. D., and G. Duraisamy. 2015. “Review of high efficiency and clean reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) combustion in internal combustion engines.” Prog. Energy Combust. Sci. 46 (Feb): 12–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2014.05.003.
Saxena, M. R., R. K. Maurya, and P. Mishra. 2021. “Assessment of performance, combustion and emissions characteristics of methanol-diesel dual-fuel compression ignition engine: A review.” J. Traffic Transp. Eng. 8 (5): 638–680. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtte.2021.02.003.
Sayin, C., M. Ilhan, M. Canakci, and M. Gumus. 2009. “Effect of injection timing on the exhaust emissions of a diesel engine using diesel-methanol blends.” Renewable Energy 34 (5): 1261–1269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2008.10.010.
Singh, A. P., V. Kumar, and A. K. Agarwal. 2021. “Evaluation of reactivity controlled compression ignition mode combustion engine using mineral diesel/gasoline fuel pair.” Fuel 301 (Oct): 120986. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.120986.
Thiyagarajan, S., A. Sonthalia, V. Edwin Geo, T. Prakash, V. Karthickeyan, B. Ashok, K. Nanthagopal, and B. Dhinesh. 2020. “Effect of manifold injection of methanol/n-pentanol in safflower biodiesel fuelled CI engine.” Fuel 261 (Feb): 116378. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2019.116378.
Tian, Z., Y. Wang, X. Zhen, and Z. Liu. 2022. “The effect of methanol production and application in internal combustion engines on emissions in the context of carbon neutrality: A review.” Fuel 320 (Jul): 123902. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2022.123902.
Vargün, M., L. T. Yılmaz, and C. Sayın. 2022. “Investigation of performance, combustion and emission characteristics in a diesel engine fueled with methanol/ethanol/nHeptane/diesel blends.” Energy 257 (Oct): 124740. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2022.124740.
Verhelst, S., J. W. Turner, L. Sileghem, and J. Vancoillie. 2019. “Methanol as a fuel for internal combustion engines.” Prog. Energy Combust. Sci. 70 (Jan): 43–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2018.10.001.
Wan, M. D., F. L. Huang, L. Z. Shen, and J. L. Lei. 2023. “Experimental investigation on effects of fuel injection and intake parameters on combustion and performance of a turbocharged diesel engine at different altitudes.” Front. Energy Res. 10 (Jan): 1090948. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2022.1090948.
Wang, L., J. Liu, Q. Ji, P. Sun, M. Wei, and S. Liu. 2022. “Experimental study on the high load extension of PODE/methanol RCCI combustion mode with optimized injection strategy.” Fuel 314 (Apr): 122726. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.122726.
Wang, X., Y. Ge, C. Zhang, J. Tan, L. Hao, J. Liu, and H. Gong. 2016. “Effects of engine misfire on regulated, unregulated emissions from a methanol-fueled vehicle and its ozone forming potential.” Appl. Energy 177 (Sep): 187–195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.05.092.
Wei, H., C. Yao, Z. Dou, B. Wang, C. Chen, and M. Liu. 2017. “Comparison of the conversion efficiency of DOC and DPOC to unregulated emissions from a DMDF engine.” Fuel 204 (Sep): 71–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2017.05.021.
Wei, Y., K. Chen, J. Kang, W. Chen, X. Wang, and X. Zhang. 2022. “Policy and management of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality: A literature review.” Engineering 14 (Jul): 52–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2021.12.018.
Wu, H. W., C. M. Fan, J. Y. He, and T. T. Hsu. 2017. “Optimal factors estimation for diesel/methanol engines changing methanol injection timing and inlet air temperature.” Energy 141 (Dec): 1819–1828. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2017.11.123.
Yilmaz, N., and S. M. Davis. 2022. “Formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and regulated emissions from biodiesel and n-butanol blends containing water.” J. Hazard. Mater. 437 (Sep): 129360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129360.
Zhang, Y., Z. Mu, Y. Wei, Z. Zhu, R. Du, and S. Liu. 2022. “Comprehensive study on unregulated emissions of heavy-duty SI pure methanol engine with EGR.” Fuel 320 (Jul): 123974. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2022.123974.
Zhang, Z. H., C. S. Cheung, T. L. Chan, and C. D. Yao. 2010a. “Experimental investigation of regulated and unregulated emissions from a diesel engine fueled with Euro V diesel fuel and fumigation methanol.” Atmos. Environ. 44 (8): 1054–1061. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2009.12.017.
Zhang, Z. H., C. S. Cheung, T. L. Chan, and C. D. Yao. 2010b. “Experimental investigation on regulated and unregulated emissions of a diesel/methanol compound combustion engine with and without diesel oxidation catalyst.” Sci. Total Environ. 408 (4): 865–872. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.10.060.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 149 • Issue 3 • June 2023
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 5, 2022
Accepted: Feb 12, 2023
Published online: Apr 13, 2023
Published in print: Jun 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Sep 13, 2023
ASCE Technical Topics:
- [Inorganic compounds]
- Air pollution
- Carbon compounds
- Carbon dioxide
- Chemicals
- Chemistry
- Compression
- Continuum mechanics
- Design (by type)
- Dynamics (solid mechanics)
- Emissions
- Energy engineering
- Energy sources (by type)
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering mechanics
- Engines
- Environmental engineering
- Equipment and machinery
- Fuels
- Load factors
- Non-renewable energy
- Organic compounds
- Petroleum
- Pollution
- Solid mechanics
- Structural design
- Structural dynamics
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.