Performance of an experimental diesel engine was investigated when fueled with CTL20 (80% ULSD#2 (ultra-low sulfur diesel) blended with 20% Fischer-Tropsch coal-to-liquid (CTL) fuel. CTL fuel was selected given its potential as an alternative fuel that can supplement the ULSD supply. Combustion and emissions were studied in a common rail, supercharged, single cylinder DI engine with 15% exhaust gas recirculation operated at 1500 RPM and 4.5 bar IMEP in reference to a diesel baseline. The injection pressure was varied from 800–1200 bar while injection timing was tested from 15° to 22° CAD BTDC to optimize combustion. Similar in-cylinder pressures and temperatures were observed for both fuels at the same injection pressure and timing; the maximum heat release and in cylinder pressure and temperatures increased with higher rail pressure. CTL20 had a retarded premixed burn peak by 5 to 8 J/CAD compared to diesel at the same injection pressure and timing. This can be related to a delayed ignition of CTL20 which allowed for higher peak premixed combustion. In-cylinder convection and radiation heat fluxes were stable across injection pressures for both fuels around 1.7 MW/m2 and 0.4 MW/m2, respectively. NOx decreased with CTL20 at higher injection pressure while soot was relatively increased at lower injection pressure. CTL20 decreased BSFC by 3–5% compared to ULSD#2 at 800–1200 bar injection. The mechanical efficiency was maintained around 65% for ULSD#2 as well as for CTL20 during operation at all injection pressures. The study suggests that CTL fuel can be used at 20% as a binary mixture in ULSD#2 while sustaining performance in the experimental engine.
- Power Division
- Advanced Energy Systems Division
- Solar Energy Division
- Nuclear Engineering Division
Performance of a Supercharged Engine Fueled With a CTL Binary Mixture at Different Injection Pressures
Soloiu, V, Moncada, J, Muiños, M, Gaubert, R, Williams, J, Breen-Lyles, M, & Wagenmaker, M. "Performance of a Supercharged Engine Fueled With a CTL Binary Mixture at Different Injection Pressures." Proceedings of the ASME 2017 Power Conference Joint With ICOPE-17 collocated with the ASME 2017 11th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, the ASME 2017 15th International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, and the ASME 2017 Nuclear Forum. Volume 1: Boilers and Heat Recovery Steam Generator; Combustion Turbines; Energy Water Sustainability; Fuels, Combustion and Material Handling; Heat Exchangers, Condensers, Cooling Systems, and Balance-of-Plant. Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. June 26–30, 2017. V001T04A045. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/POWER-ICOPE2017-3619
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