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The influence of biodiesel composition on compression ignition combustion and emissions

Hellier, P; Ladommatos, N; (2015) The influence of biodiesel composition on compression ignition combustion and emissions. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy , 229 (7) pp. 714-726. 10.1177/0957650915598424. Green open access

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Abstract

Renewable alternatives to fossil fuels are necessary for the reduction of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, the increased atmospheric concentrations of which are resulting in global climate change. Biodiesel, fatty acid esters prepared from the reaction of triglycerides with alcohols, is a potentially sustainable fuel for compression ignition combustion, and is already widely used to displace fossil-derived diesels. However, there is a wide range of potential feedstocks suitable for the production of biodiesel, and the composition of these oils and alcohols can have a significant impact on the combustion characteristics of the resultant biodiesel. Therefore, this paper presents a review of biodiesel composition from various sources, and the effects of differing composition on combustion phasing and the emissions of regulated pollutants, NOx and particulate matter, in compression ignition engines. The primary influence of biodiesel composition on fuel ignition delay is through the fatty acid alkyl moiety, with either an increase in alkyl chain length or degree of saturation reducing the duration of ignition delay. NOx emission levels are determined through in-cylinder temperature conditions, most strongly influenced in common rail injection systems by the duration of ignition delay and in mechanical injection systems by injection timing, which advances with increasing biodiesel bulk modulus. Emissions of particulate matter increase with biodiesel physical properties, such as boiling point or viscosity, which increase with both increasing fatty acid moiety and alcohol moiety alkyl chain length.

Type: Article
Title: The influence of biodiesel composition on compression ignition combustion and emissions
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1177/0957650915598424
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0957650915598424
Language: English
Additional information: Copyright © 2015 by Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Keywords: Biodiesel, compression ignition combustion, ignition delay, molecular structure, NOx, soot
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Mechanical Engineering
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1469657
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