USE OF DIESEL MIXED WITH ETHANOL AND ETHYL ACETATE FOR ALTERNATIVE FUEL IN A HIGH-SPEED DIESEL ENGINE

Abstract

Particulate matters especially particles with less than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) are the main cause of severe air pollution problem in Thailand that lead to the mortality risk in cardiovascular disease. Exhaust gas emissions specifically carbon monoxide and black smoke from diesel engines are the essential sources in generating significant amounts of PM2.5. Improving diesel properties by mixing oxygenated additives is one of the alternatives in reducing this pollutant. The main objective of this research is to investigate the performance and emission of a high-speed diesel engine at 3,000 rpm and different loads operated with diesel mixed with 5 to 20% ethanol and 5% ethyl acetate. The results of engine test at 80% load using diesel mixed with 5% of ethanol and ethyl acetate showed a few decreases in fuel properties and engine performance compared with diesel. The release of black smoke was also decreased to 14%. Increasing the mixture of ethanol to more than 5% has led to the decrease in engine performance continuously. The diesel mixed with ethanol at 20% and ethyl acetate at 5% has reduced the carbon monoxide and black smoke to 0.012%vol and 31.53% respectively and accrued the carbon dioxide at 1.25%vol. This is because the diesel mixed with ethanol and ethyl acetate increased the oxygen level to perform complete combustion as compared with diesel. However, the temperature of these exhaust gases was raised to 55oC