Impact of DME as an Oxygenated Alternative Fuel on Combustion and Emissions Reduction in a Transportation Vehicle at Low Load Condition
Publication: Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 139, Issue 4
Abstract
This study investigates the impact of dimethyl ether (DME) on the combustion and exhaust emission characteristics at low engine load operating and pilot injection conditions in a four-cylinder diesel engine that was modified for DME application. The combustion characteristics were analyzed based on the combustion pressure, the rate of heat release, the accumulated heat release, and the premixed combustion characteristics. The emission characteristics were analyzed through the analysis of the nitrogen oxides (), soot, hydrocarbon (HC), and carbon monoxide (CO). The heat release amount per unit crank angle in DME combustion is higher than that in diesel combustion in a pilot injected combustion mode. The accumulated heat release of DME during the main combustion is higher than that of diesel fuel. The pilot injection combustion of DME fuel started earlier than single-injection combustion does. The advanced pilot injection timing caused a decrease of premixed combustion duration and a retardation of premixed combustion phasing. As the pilot injection timing moved to top dead center, the total combustion duration and the heat release amount per unit crank angle decreased. In the emission results, advances of the pilot injection timing caused the decrease of indicated specific (IS) emission in both diesel and DME fuels. The advanced pilot injection timing caused a significant increase of HC and CO emission because of an increase of the overmixed region and incomplete combustion.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This research was supported in part by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (2012007015) and the Second Brain Korea 21 Project.
References
Abu-Jrai, A., et al. (2006). “Effect of gas-to-liquid diesel fuels on combustion characteristics, engine emissions, and exhaust gas fuel reforming. Comparative study.” Energy Fuels, 20(6), 2377–2384.
Agarwal, A. K. (2007). “Biofuels (alcohols and biodiesel) application as fuels for internal combustion engines.” Prog. Energy Combust., 33(3), 233–271.
An, B., Sato, Y., Lee, S., and Takayanagi, T. (2004). “Effect of injection pressure on combustion of a heavy duty diesel engine with common rail DME injection equipment.” 2004 SAE Fuels & Lubrications Meeting & Exhibition, SAE Tech Paper, No., Society of Automotive Engineers, Toulouse, France.
Arcoumanis, C., Bae, C., Crookes, R., and Kinoshita, E. (2008). “The potential of di-methyl ether (DME) as an alternative fuel for compression-ignition engines: A review.” Fuel, 87(7), 1014–1030.
Benramdhane, S., Millet, C. N., Jeudy, E., Lavy, J., Blasin-Aube, V., and Daturi, M. (2011). “Diesel lean NOx-trap thermal aging and performance evolution characterization.” Oil Gas Sci. Technol., 66(5), 845–853.
Curran, H. J., et al. (2001). “Detailed chemical kinetic modeling of diesel combustion with oxygenated fuels.” SAE 2001 World Congress, SAE Tech Paper, No., Society of Automotive Engineers, Detroit, MI.
Gill, D., Ofner, H., Sturman, E., Carpenter, J., and Wolverton, M. A. (2001). “Production feasible DMe technology for direct CI engine.” International Spring Fuels & Lubricants Meeting, SAE Tech Paper, No., Society of Automotive Engineers, Orlando, FL.
Goto, S., Oguma, M., and Suzuki, S. (2005). “Research and development of a medium duty DME truck.” 2005 SAE Brasil Fuels & Lubricants Meeting, SAE Tech Paper, No., Society of Automotive Engineers, Rio De Janiero, Brazil.
Hsieh, M. F., and Wang, J. (2011). “Sliding-mode observer for urea-selective catalytic reduction (SCR) mid-catalyst ammonia concentration estimation.” Int. J. Automot. Technol., 12(3), 321–329.
Jung, G. S., Sung, Y. H., Choi, B. C., Lee, C. W., and Lim, M. T. (2012). “Major sources of hydrocarbon emissions in a premixed charge compression ignition engine.” Int. J. Automot. Technol., 13(3), 347–353.
Kajitani, S., Zhen, C. L., Konno, M., and Rhee, K. T. (1997). “Engine performance and exhaust characteristics of direct-injection diesel engine operated with DME.” International Fuels & Lubricants Meeting & Exposition, SAE Tech Paper, No., Society of Automotive Engineers, Tulsa, OK.
Kapus, P., and Ofner, H. (1995). “Development of fuel injection equipment and combustion system for DI diesel operated on dimethyl ether.” International Congress & Exposition, SAE Tech Paper, No., Society of Automotive Engineers, Detroit, MI.
Kim, M. Y., Bang, S. H., and Lee, C. S. (2007). “Experimental investigation of spray and combustion characteristics of dimethyl ether in a common-rail diesel engine.” Energy Fuels, 21(2), 793–800.
Lindenkamp, N., Stöber-Schmidt, C., and Eilts, P. (2009). “Strategies for reducing NOx and particulate matter emissions in diesel hybrid electric vehicles.” SAE World Congress & Exhibition, SAE Tech Paper, No., Society of Automotive Engineers, Detroit, MI.
Maly, R. R., et al. (2007). “Optimum diesel fuel for future clean diesel engines.” 2007 Fuels and Emissions Conf., SAE Tech Paper, No., Society of Automotive Engineers, Cape Town, South Africa.
Nielsen, K., and Sorenson, S. C. (1999). “Lubricity additives and were with DME in diesel injection pumps.” in Emissions, Fuels and Lubricants and HSDI Engines, ASME, New York, 145–153.
Ogawa, H., Miyamoto, N., and Yagi, M. (2003). “Chemical-kinetic analysis of PAH formation mechanism of oxygenated fuels.” SAE Powertrain & Fluid Systems Conf. & Exhibition, SAE Tech Paper, No., Society of Automotive Engineers, Pittsburgh, PA.
Oguma, M., Goto, S., and Watanabe, T. (2004). “Engine performance and emission characteristics of DME disel engine with inline injection pump developed for DME.” 2004 SAE Fuels & Lubricants Meeting & Exhibition, SAE Tech Paper, No., Society of Automotive Engineers, Toulouse, France.
Park, J., and Park, J.-H. (2012). “Development of equivalence fuel consumption minimization strategy for hybrid electric vehicle.” Int. J. Automot. Technol., 13(5), 835–843.
Park, S. H., Cha, J., Park, S., and Lee, C. S. (2012). “Simultaneous reduction in the exhaust emissions by a high exhaust gas recirculation ratio in dimethyl-ether-fuelled diesel engine at a low-load operating condition.” Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng. D J. Autom., 226(8), 1130–1142.
Park, S. H., Kim, H. J., and Lee, C. S. (2010). “Macroscopic spray characteristics and breakup performance of dimethyl ether (DME) fuel at high fuel temperatures and ambient conditions.” Fuel, 89(10), 3001–3011.
Park, S. H., and Lee, C. S. (2013). “Combustion performance and emission reduction characteristics of automotive DME engine system.” Prog. Energy Combust., 39(1), 147–168.
Petersen, B. R., Ekoto, I. W., and Miles, P. C. (2010). “An investigation into the effects of fuel properties and engine load on UHC and CO emissions from a light-duty optical diesel engine operating in a partially premixed combustion regime.” International Powertrains, Fuels, & Lubricants Meeting, SAE Tech Paper, No., Society of Automotive Engineers, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
Rakopoulos, D. C., Rakopoulos, C. D., Giakoumis, E. G., and Dimaratos, A. M. (2012). “Characteristics of performance and emissions in high-speed direct injection diesel engine fueled with diethyl ether/diesel fuel blends.” Energy, 43(1), 214–224.
Rakopoulos, D. C., Rakopoulos, C. D., Papagiannakis, R. G., and Kyritsis, D. C. (2011). “Combustion heat release analysis of ethanol or n-butanol diesel fuel blends in heavy-duty DI diesel engine.” Fuel, 90(5), 1855–1867.
Sato, Y., Noda, A., Sakamoto, Y., and Goto, Y. (2000). “Performance and emission of a DI diesel engine operated on dimethyl ether applying EGR with supercharging.” CEC/SAE Spring Fuels & Lubricants Meeting & Exposition, SAE Tech Paper, No., Society of Automotive Engineers, Paris, France.
Sorenson, S. C., Glensvig, M., and Abata, D. L. (1998). “Dimethyl ether in diesel fuel injection system.” International Congress & Exposition, SAE Tech Paper, No., Society of Automotive EngineersDetroit, MI.
Stiesch, G. (2003). Modeling engine spray and combustion processes, Springer, Germany.
Stratakis, G. A., Psarianos, D. L., and Stamatelos, A. M. (2002). “Experimental investigation of the pressure drop in porous ceramic diesel particulate filters.” Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng., 216(9), 773–784.
Suh, H. K., and Lee, C. S. (2008). “Experimental and analytical study on the spray characteristics of dimethyl ether (DME) and diesel fuels within a common-rail injection system in a diesel engine.” Fuel, 87(6), 925–932.
Teng, H., and McCandless, J. C. (2005). “Comparative study of characteristics of diesel-fuel and dimethyl-ether sprays in the engine.” SAE 2005 World Congress & Exhibition, SAE Tech Paper, No., Society of Automotive Engineers, Detroit, MI.
Teng, H., and McCandless, J. C. (2006). “Can heavy-duty diesel engines fueled with DME meet US 2007/2010 emissions standard using a simplified aftertreatment system?” SAE 2006 World Congress & Exhibition, SAE Tech Paper, No., Society of Automotive Engineers, Detroit, MI.
Teng, H., McCandless, J. C., and Schneyer, J. B. (2002). “Viscosity and lubricity of (liquid) dimethyl ether—An alternative fuel for compression-ignition engines.” SAE 2002 World Congress & Exhibition, SAE Tech Paper, No., Society of Automotive Engineers, Detroit, MI.
Teng, H., McCandless, J. C., and Schneyer, J. B. (2003). “Compression ignition delay (physical+chemical) of dimethyl ether an alternative fuel for compression-ignition engines.” SAE 2003 World Congress & Exhibition, SAE Tech Paper, No., Society of Automotive Engineers, Detroit, MI.
Teng, H., McCandless, J. C., and Schneyer, J. B. (2004). “Thermodynamic properties of dimethyl ether an alternative fuel for compression-ignition engines.” SAE 2004 World Congress & Exhibition, SAE Tech Paper, No., Society of Automotive Engineers, Detroit, MI.
Verhelst, S., and Wallner, T. (2009). “Hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engines.” Prog. Energy Combust., 35(6), 490–527.
Zheng, C. H., Park, Y. I., Lim, W. S., and Cha, S. W. (2012). “Fuel economy evaluation of fuel cell hybrid vehicles based on optimal control.” Int. J. Automot. Technol., 13(3), 517–522.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 139 • Issue 4 • December 2013
Pages: 308 - 315
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 15, 2012
Accepted: Feb 20, 2013
Published online: Nov 15, 2013
Published in print: Dec 1, 2013
Discussion open until: Apr 15, 2014
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.