The significance of low carbon bio-alcohols and bio-ketones fuels for clean propulsion systems

Abstract

This experimental work investigates oxygenated bio-fuel component blends of butanol, pentanol and cyclopentanone with diesel on the combustion characteristics, gaseous emissions and particulate matter (PM). Furthermore, PM characteristics, including size distributions, morphology and nanostructure are investigated. The oxygen content on the sustainable fuel blend components (bio-alcohols and bio-ketone) and the lower cetane number leading to a longer ignition delay, larger premixed combustion phase and high mean peak combustion temperature reduced the total number of particle concentration by up to 91%. Characterisation of particles demonstrated morphological and nanostructural alterations, such as the reduction in primary particle size that would lead to greater particle oxidation reactivity. Furthermore, the combustion of oxygenated blends showed a reduction in the total hydrocarbon emissions and an increase in NO2 concentration. This research provides new knowledge to understand the effects of fuel properties on gaseous and particle emissions formation and characteristics. Overall this work demonstrates bio-alcohols and bio-ketones as low carbon fuels in unveiling strategies for vehicular emissions abatement.