Combustion characteristics of a DI diesel engine fueled with BDF/DME composite fuel

Abstract

Bio-diesel-fuel (BDF) and dimethyl ether (DME) can control an increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from the viewpoint of carbon neutral, since they are biomass derived fuel. For diesel engine application, DME has problems of poor lubricity and low heating value, and BDF has problems of smoke emission and high viscosity. It can be make up for those faults of each other, by compounding the fuels. In this study, first a compatibility of both fuels was examined, then engine performance, exhaust emissions, and combustion characteristics of BDF/DME composite fuel were investigated using a small DI diesel engine. As the results, smoke emission was remarkably reduced with the composite fuel, and good thermal efficiency comparable to diesel fuel operation was achieved.