Optical Analysis of Combustion and Soot Formation in a CI Engine Fuelled with Water in Diesel Emulsion through Microchannels Emulsification

C Tornatore (1) , R Calabria (1) , L Marchitto (1) , J Belletre (2) , P. Massoli (1) , A. Montillet (3, 4) , G Valentino (1)

1 Istituto Motori [Napoli]
2 LTeN - Laboratoire de Thermique et d’Energie de Nantes
3 GEPEA-MAPS2 - Matrices Aliments Procédés Propriétés Structure - Sensoriel
4 IUT Saint-Nazaire - Institut Universitaire de Technologie Saint-Nazaire

Water in diesel emulsion (WiDE) is a viable solution for lowering both NOx and Soot emissions from compression ignition (CI) engines. In this paper, the effect of WiDE on the combustion process and exhaust emissions of a prototype optically accessible CI engine was investigated through conventional in-cylinder pressure measurements and optical diagnostics. The emulsion (9.1%v of water) was produced through a prototype designed microchannels emulsifier with a small amount of nonionic surfactant. Commercial diesel was set as reference fuel and compared to WiDE. The start of injection (SOI) was swept from 8 to 23 CAD BTDC. For diesel fuel, the injected mass and injection pressure were representative of a medium load regime, WiDE injection interval was adjusted to keep constant the energy content. Compared to Diesel, WiDE induced an increase in ignition time, enhancing the air/fuel mixing with a simultaneous reduction in PM and NOx. 2D chemiluminescent emission measurements highlighted a reduction in soot formation using WiDE, without significant changes in soot oxidation rate.

Domaines: Milieux fluides et réactifs

C Tornatore, R Calabria, L Marchitto, J Belletre, P. Massoli, et al.. Optical Analysis of Combustion and Soot Formation in a CI Engine Fuelled with Water in Diesel Emulsion through Microchannels Emulsification. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2018, Proceedings of the XXV A.I.VE.LA. Annual Meeting9–10 November 2017, Rome, Italy, 1110, pp.012010. ⟨10.1088/1742-6596/1110/1/012010⟩. ⟨hal-01969893⟩