Flash Boiling Effect of Ethane Mixed Fuel on Pre-mixed Diesel Combustion

Abstract

A mixed fuel consisting of gaseous fuel and liquid fuel can realize flash-boiling injection even under in-cylinder condition close to top dead center. This study mixed liquefied ethane into gas oil and applied the mixed fuel into diesel engine to offer improved engine performance. The flash boiling effect that enhances spray atomization and evaporation promoted lean mixture formation, and achieved low soot and low NO_x combustion without EGR while improving thermal efficiency. In addition, the effects of flash boiling were investigated by comparing the combustion characteristics between the ethane mixed fuel with flash boiling and the Shellsol mixed fuel without flash boiling.