Work

Experimental Evaluation of Synthetic n-Propanol in a Dual-Fuel Engine and Modeling of Its Renewable Electrochemical Production from CO2

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The use of synthetic fuels produced from CO2 requires efficient production technologies and evaluation of their application in energy systems. This study combines experimental tests of a dual-fuel engine powered by n-propanol and diesel fuel with modeling of electrochemical n-propanol synthesis from CO2. The aim was to determine the optimal n-propanol share and investigate the performance of a tandem electrochemical reactor. Increasing the energy share of n-propanol reduced CO and CO2 emissions. The highest engine efficiency of 33.94% was achieved at a 50% energy share of n-propanol, representing an increase of 1.5% compared with diesel-only operation. At this operating point, CO and CO2 emissions were reduced by 87.7% and 18.5%, respectively, compared with diesel-only operations. This point was selected for further analysis. A mathematical model of a tandem electrochemical reactor was developed. The system included CO2-to-CO conversion followed by n-propanol synthesis. The energy efficiencies of the CO generation and n-propanol synthesis reactors were 47.77% and 23.07%, respectively. Faradaic efficiency and cell voltage were the main factors affecting reactor performance. The overall tandem reactor efficiency ranged from 12% to 22%. The results confirm the potential of n-propanol as a dual-fuel engine fuel and identify key directions for improving electrochemical CO2 conversion.

Source: Energies

DOI: 10.3390/en19163928

Authors: Janusz Kotowicz, Kamil Niesporek, Wojciech Tutak

Institutions: Silesian University of Technology, Częstochowa University of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Catalysts for Methane Reforming

Subfield: Catalysis

Field: Chemical Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137