Influence of gaseous fuel induction on the various engine characteristics of a dual fuel compression ignition engine: A review

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.10.055Get rights and content

Abstract

Currently, the unsustainable fossil fuels have been chiefly used for power generation in CI engines. From the standpoint of fossil fuels depletions and environmental concerns, it is imperative to hunt out alternative energy resources that could replace hydrocarbon fossil fuels in the existing engines. In this regards, enormous studies have focused on the utilization of renewable fuels along with conventional petroleum fuel in existing compression ignition (CI) engine. The induction of gaseous fuels under dual fuel mode have emanated as a potential energy carrier to address the environmental aspects related to CI engines. This review focussed to analyze the influence of gaseous fuels (like H2, biogas, syngas) addition to CI diesel engine under dual fuel mode with diesel/biodiesel as a pilot fuel. Various engine characteristics such as combustion, performance, and emission of the dual fuel CI engine using gaseous fuels as a secondary fuel were analyzed and compared with CI engine working under single fuel mode. Findings of some experimental studies have been presented in the form of graphs for selective important parameters as case studies. The overall impression from the review suggests that the performance of the dual fuel CI engine slightly deteriorates while enriching the gaseous fuel, but the improvement in environmental emissions have been reported. Furthermore, various approaches are discussed comprehensively in order to evaluate the performance of dual fuel CI engine along with a check on harmful emissions.

Introduction

Today's world is mainly relying on CI engines for power generation, especially in the transport sector. Furthermore, the power generation by burning petroleum diesel fuel in CI engines comes at dual crises of fossil fuel depletion and environmental degradation. It is a cogent proof that the combustion of these fuels has a fatal impact on the environment, which leads to deteriorated air quality because of the emission of air pollutants such as oxides of nitrogen (NOx), particulate matter (PM) and secondly, ignites the climate change issue due to the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere [1], [2], [3]. In fact, India is already the fourth largest greenhouse gas emitter of the world which is expected to reach the top position in the near future [4]. No doubt, the dwindling fossil-fuel reserve, and the environmental pollutants are the well-known pressing issues that need to be addressed today. Fossil fuels, at present, constitute about 80% of the total energy share with almost 50% of it being associated with the transportation sector, which is mainly based on diesel engine [5]. It would be interesting to know that, more than 6.5 million diesel engines exist at present in the Indian farming sector for various activities [6]. Therefore, to address these aforesaid dilemmas, it is imperative to move towards an eco-friendly fuel to power CI engines. The mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from the environment is the key motivation for the utilization of renewable fuels in CI engine. The worldwide share of renewable energy is about 9% and will rise up to 12% by 2040 [7]. The worldwide automotive fuel consumption in the automotive sector is shown in Fig. 1.

Worldwide research is focussed on appropriate technology as well as alternative fuel that would be used in these existing diesel engines with no or fewer noxious pollutants. Use of sophisticated electronic controllers in CI diesel engine enables reduced emission and better fuel efficiency in comparison to previous counterpart [8]. However, the positive effects of this technology are overshadowed by its high price tag; hence, can’t be commercially employed. In the last few decades, various alternative fuels have been proposed, targeting at cleaner and sustainable energy sources in order to counteract the consequences of the emissions from the CI engines. These include vegetable oil, alcohols, biofuels, compressed natural gas (CNG), natural gas (NG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), syngas, methane (CH4), biogas, hydrogen (H2), etc for the replacement of diesel fuels used in CI diesel engine [9], [10]. Studies are being focussed on the usage of gaseous fuels like natural gas for CI engines worldwide, because of their better mixing characteristics with air. Hydrogen is also one of the commonly known clean energy resources; but, discovery of environment friendly technique to produce H2 at a lower price is the challenging task for research.

Indeed, there are review articles published on different strategies and alternatives fuels for CI engines; with some reviews on blending of additives with biodiesel [11], [12]. Rajasekar and Datta et al. [13], [14] published reviews on CI engines fuelled with biodiesel; their monumental study set a milestone in the field of CI engines. Debnath et al. [15] reviewed the application of emulsion as an alternative fuel. Singh et al. [16] discussed about a methodology for the complete elimination of diesel fuel in their review. Varun et al. [17] reviewed on the studies based on the modification of combustion chamber geometry. Given a multitude of these reviews, it is an apt time to make an attempt to compile and analyze the research studies focussing on the influence of potential gaseous fuels (like H2, biogas, syngas) induction on the combustion, performance and emission characteristics of a dual fuel CI engine. The emphasis of the current review is the exploration of new alternative and clean renewable fuels to be used in conjunction with diesel in existing CI engines without major modifications.

Section snippets

Gaseous fuel as an alternative fuel

Gaseous fuels have been emerging as attractive alternative energy resources to replace diesel fuel either partially or completely in CI engine. The injection of gaseous fuel in CI engine under dual fuel mode is not a new technology; it has been investigated by many researchers with widespread success [18], [19]. Usually, gaseous fuel is mixed with the intake air during the suction stroke of dual fuel CI engine, either through manifold injection or through direct injection into the cylinder [20]

Conclusions

Reviewing various studies on the utilization of gaseous fuels (especially H2, biogas and syngas) with diesel/biodiesel as pilot fuel in dual fuel CI engine reveals the following:.

  • H2 has higher laminar flame speed, shorter ignition delay and lower minimum ignition energy that enhance flame propagation process and initial flame development inside the cylinder.

  • Large number of studies reported improvement in engine performance in terms of BTE and brake power with increase in H2 energy share in dual

Future scope

Although, this detailed literature review highlighted the use of H2, biogas and syngas in CI engine under dual fuel mode, but there are certain allied areas which needs further attention:

  • H2 energy, additionally to hydro, biomass and solar, is also one of the long term renewable fuel. Nevertheless, the technologies for H2 production at an affordable cost and safe storage are the great challenges for the utilization of H2 in CI engines. Moreover, the transportation of H2 needs standards related

References (138)

  • P. Singh et al.

    A review on methodology for complete elimination of diesel from CI engines using mixed feedstock

    Renew Sustain Energy Rev

    (2016)
  • G.A. Karim

    A review of combustion processes in the dual fuel engine-the gas diesel engine

    Prog Energy Combust Sci

    (1980)
  • M.P. Hekkert et al.

    Natural gas as an alternative to crude oil in automotive fuel chains well-to-wheel analysis and transition strategy development

    Energy Policy

    (2005)
  • A. Midilli et al.

    Hydrogen as a renewable and sustainable solution in reducing global fossil fuel consumption

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (2008)
  • B. McLellan et al.

    Hydrogen production and utilization opportunities for Australia

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (2005)
  • T. Petkov et al.

    An outlook of hydrogen as an alternative fuel

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (1989)
  • L.M. Das

    Hydrogen engine: a view of the past and a look into the future

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (1990)
  • M.O. Hamdan et al.

    Performance of CI engine operating with hydrogen supplement co-combustion with jojoba methyl ester

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (2016)
  • H.S. Homan et al.

    Hydrogen-fueled diesel engine without timed ignition

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (1979)
  • J. Naber

    Hydrogen combustion under diesel engine conditions

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (1998)
  • D.B. Lata et al.

    Investigations on the combustion parameters of a dual fuel diesel engine with H2 and LPG as secondary fuels

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (2011)
  • J.K.S. Wong

    Compression ignition of hydrogen in a direct injection diesel engine modified to operate as a low heat rejection engine

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (1990)
  • V. Edwin Geo et al.

    Studies on dual fuel operation of rubber seed oil and its bio-diesel with hydrogen as the inducted fuel

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (2008)
  • W.B. Santoso et al.

    Combustion characteristics of diesel-hydrogen dual fuel engine at low load

    Energy Procedia

    (2013)
  • I.T. Yilmaz et al.

    Effects of hydrogen enrichment on combustion characteristics of a CI engine

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (2017)
  • M.M. Abdelaal et al.

    Effect of adding oxygen to the intake air on a dual-fuel engine performance, emissions, and knock tendency

    Energy

    (2013)
  • C. Liew et al.

    An experimental investigation of the combustion process of a heavy-duty diesel engine enriched with hydrogen

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (2010)
  • V. Chintala et al.

    An effort to enhance hydrogen energy share in a compression ignition engine under dual-fuel mode using low temperature combustion strategies

    Appl Energy

    (2015)
  • A. Boretti

    Advantages of the direct injection of both diesel and hydrogen in dual fuel H2 ICE

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (2011)
  • M.Y.E. Selim

    Sensitivity of dual fuel engine combustion and knocking limits to gaseous fuel composition

    Energy Convers Manag

    (2004)
  • H.B. Mathur et al.

    Hydrogen-fuelled diesel engine: performance improvement through charge dilution technique

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (1993)
  • O.H. Ghazal

    Performance and combustion characteristic of CI engine fueled with hydrogen enriched diesel

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (2013)
  • K.S. Varde et al.

    Hydrogen aspiration in a direct injection diesel engine-its effects on smoke and other engine parameters

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (1983)
  • H. An et al.

    A numerical study on a hydrogen assisted diesel engine

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (2013)
  • V.S. Yadav et al.

    Engine performance of optimized hydrogen-fueled direct injection engine

    Energy

    (2014)
  • G. Gopal et al.

    Use of hydrogen in dual fuel engine

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (1982)
  • H.B. Mathur et al.

    Hydrogen fuel utilization in a CI engine powered and utility systems

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (1992)
  • N. Saravanan et al.

    Experimental investigation of hydrogen port fuel injection in DI diesel engine

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (2007)
  • M.M. Roy et al.

    An experimental investigation on engine performance and emissions of a supercharged hydrogen-diesel dual-fuel engine

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (2010)
  • M. Talibi et al.

    Effect of hydrogen-diesel fuel co-combustion on exhaust emissions with verification using an in-cylinder gas sampling technique

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (2014)
  • G.K. Lilik et al.

    Hydrogen assisted diesel combustion

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (2010)
  • D.B. Lata et al.

    Analysis of ignition delay period of a dual fuel diesel engine with hydrogen and LPG as secondary fuels

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (2011)
  • T. Sandalci et al.

    Experimental investigation of the combustion characteristics, emissions and performance of hydrogen port fuel injection in a diesel engine

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (2014)
  • Y.K. Wong et al.

    A kinetic examination of the effects of the presence of some gaseous fuels and preignition reaction products with hydrogen in engines

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (1999)
  • T. Miyamoto et al.

    Effect of hydrogen addition to intake gas on combustion and exhaust emission characteristics of a diesel engine

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (2011)
  • A. Birtas et al.

    The effect of HRG gas addition on diesel engine combustion characteristics and exhaust emissions

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (2011)
  • J.H. Zhou et al.

    Combustion, performance, regulated and unregulated emissions of a diesel engine with hydrogen addition

    Appl Energy

    (2014)
  • Y. Karagoz et al.

    Effect of hydrogen enrichment on combustion characteristics, emissions and performance of a diesel engine

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (2016)
  • H. Kose et al.

    An experimental investigation of effect on diesel engine performance and exhaust emissions of addition at dual fuel mode of hydrogen

    Fuel Process Technol

    (2013)
  • T. Gatts et al.

    An experimental investigation of H2 emissions of a 2004 heavy-duty diesel engine supplemented with H2

    Int J Hydrog Energy

    (2010)
  • Cited by (0)

    View full text