Year: 2001
Type: article
Abstract: Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) measured the relative contribution of ethanol to engine particulate matter (PM) from four ethanol-diesel blended fuels using contemporary grain alcohol as a tracer in low {sup 14}C diesel fuel. An emulsifier (Span 85) or cosolvent (butyl alcohol) facilitated mixing of the 12-25% ethanol blends. We operated the laboratory test engine, a 1993 Cummins B5.9 diesel, at a steady-state medium load and collected PM samples on pre-combusted quartz filters following dilution of engine exhaust in a mini-dilution tunnel. The ethanol blends emitted less PM and NOX than the control. The cosolvent blends reduced PM more effectively than the emulsified blends with similar oxygen content. The distribution of the oxygen, not just the quantity, was an important factor in reducing PM emissions. Any bio-derived fuel component is easily traced on the fossil background. Schemes for measuring volatile fractions of soot and gaseous emissions can be implemented.
DOI: 10.4271/2002-01-1942
Language: English
Subfield: Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes
Field: Chemical Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W18032892