Biofuels today and tomorrow: effects of fuel composition on exhaust gas emissions

Due to current and future policy targets, and rapid technical developments, biofuel options are already available and in use in commercial applications. However, there is still doubt about which of the more promising alternatives will be widely accepted in future within the transportation sector. This includes aspects of biofuel properties and their effects on exhaust gas emissions and engine technology. This article addresses the status of current technology, reviews the progress of commercialisation of biofuel production, and gives an outline of its future development. Moreover, it provides an insight into the influence of biofuel composition on the internal combustion process and exhaust gas emissions. To assess biofuel sustainability, all aspects such as fuel production, fuel chemical composition, combustion behaviour, engine technology, and exhaust gas emissions have to be taken into account. Potential application fields and emerging challenges for measurement technology are identified in all these areas.     

Experimental investigation on the effect of natural gas premixed ratio on combustion and emissions in an IDI engine

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Usage of natural gas in an internal combustion engine that has different combustion technologies is considered a possible solution to reduce engine...     

Numerical simulation of natural gas/diesel dual-fuel engine for investigation of performance and emission

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Due to global concerns about the emissions, limited hydrocarbon fuel resources and high fuel prices, a lot of researches have been done to improve the...     

Numerical simulation and optimization of operating and structural parameters for solid oxide fuel cell

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - As a novel renewable energy cell type, flat tubular solid oxide fuel cell (FT-SOFC) has the advantages of easy sealing, low resistance, and better...     

Effects of equivalence and fuel ratios on combustion characteristics of an RCCI engine fueled with methane/n-heptane blend

Rising fuel costs and efforts for reducing greenhouse gases have led researchers to propose optimized models of combustion which have high efficiency and low emissions. Reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) engines are attractive due to their high efficiency and low NO_x and soot emissions over a wide range of operating conditions. In this study, methane and n-heptane are used as low and high reactive fuels, respectively, to create suitable fuel stratification within the cylinder. Modeling is carried out by AVL FIRE coupled with a chemical kinetics solver to investigate the effects of fuel ratio, initial temperature and equivalence ratio on the combustion performance and emission characteristics. Methane/n-heptane ratios are varied according to the energy ratio of each fuel while total input energy and total equivalence ratios are fixed. By increasing methane energy ratio from 65% to 85% in the constant intake temperature and pressure, the mixture Octane number increases, which would lead to an increase in ignition delay up to 5 crank angles. As a result, IMEP would be enhanced and also NO_x emission decreases because of lower combustion temperature. By increasing intake temperature, the maximum in-cylinder pressure, heat release rate and NO_x emission would increase significantly while soot emission decreases, and also ringing intensity increases up to 10%. On the other hand, increasing intake temperature reduces volumetric efficiency; as a result, IMEP is reduced by 11%. Also by increasing equivalence ratio from 0.35 to 0.55 in a constant energy ratio, noticeable growth in the maximum amount of pressure and temperature could be achieved; consequently, NO_x emission would increase significantly, IMEP increases by 43%, and ISFC decreases by 30%. The results indicate that these parameters have significant effects on the heavy-duty RCCI engine performance and emissions.

     

The reaction of protonated dimethyl ether with dimethyl ether: temperature and isotope effects on the methyl cation transfer reaction forming trimethyloxonium cation and methanol.

Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry has been used to study the temperature and deuterium isotope effects on the methyl cation transfer reaction between protonated dimethyl ether and dimethyl ether to produce trimethyloxonium cation and methanol. From the temperature dependence of this bimolecular reaction it was possible to obtain thermodynamic information concerning the energy barrier for methyl cation transfer for the first time. From the slope of an Arrhenius plot, a value for DeltaH(++) of -1.1 +/- 1.2 kJ mol(-1) was obtained, while from the intercept a value for DeltaS(++) of -116 +/- 15 J K(-1) mol(-1) was derived. This yields a DeltaG(++)(298) value of 33.7 +/- 2.1 kJ mol(-1). All thermodynamic values were in good agreement with ab initio calculations. Rate constant ratios for the unimolecular dissociation forming trimethyloxonium cation and the dissociation re-forming reactants were extracted from the apparent bimolecular rate constant. Attempts at modeling the temperature dependence and isotope effects of the unimolecular dissociation forming trimethyloxonium cation were also made.     

Study of the effects of operational parameters on multiresidue pesticide analysis by LC-MS/MS

In this paper, the influence of several operational parameters on a well established multiresidue LC-MS/MS method has been studied in relation to the analysis of 150 pesticides commonly present in vegetable samples. The operational parameters investigated are: (i) the influence of different modifiers (0.1% formic acid; 5 mM ammonium formiate; 5 mM ammonium acetate in aqueous phase) - both on the retention time and on the analytical response of the studied compounds; (ii) the effect of the analytical column's temperature on the retention time and on the analytical response of the pesticides investigated; (iii) the effects of co-elution in mixture containing 150 pesticides and, additionally, (iv) the carrying out of a study about the common transitions obtained by LC-MS/MS. Various common transitions were found among the 150 pesticides, but there were only two problematic cases, the pairs diuron-fluometuron and prometryn-terbutryn, which have common scanned transitions and have very close retention times. The use of ammonium salts as modifier instead of formic acid reports enhancement or suppression of the response depending on the pesticides. No great influence on the retention time or on the response of the pesticides and commodities studied was observed with relation to the column temperature. Two different columns: an HPLC (5 μm particle size) and an UHPLC analytical column (1.8 μm particle size) have been used. As was expected, shorter run times and lower peak width was achieved with the UHPLC column.In this paper, the effect of the compounds on each other in the MS analysis when the number of co-eluting compounds is quite high is also described. Mainly small suppression or enhancement co-elution effect was observed, but some particular pesticides presented high sensitivity (>±60% effect) when they elute together with others. This is an important factor and it has to be taken into account when performing multiresidue pesticide analysis.     

Single-stage conversion of associated petroleum gas and natural gas to syngas in combustion and auto-ignition processes

Single-stage conversion of alkane mixtures simulating associated petroleum gas (APG) to syngas is studied in a static installation and in a flow reactor based on the rocket combustion chamber. Yields of the desired reaction products close to their thermodynamically equilibrium values are obtained. A range of experimental parameters, in which ignition delays of APG-oxygen mixtures exhibit negative or zero temperature coefficients, is determined for the first time. Such a behavior of ignition delays is proved to be a fundamental property of fuel-rich APG mixtures. The range of abnormal temperature dependence of ignition delays is shown to be extended as the initial pressure rises, which makes it possible to significantly increase the reaction rate by increasing the initial working pressure.     

Bifunctional pathways mediated by Pt clusters and Al2O3 in the catalytic combustion of dimethyl ether

Mixtures of Pt clusters dispersed on gamma-Al(2)O(3) and additional gamma-Al(2)O(3) led to much higher DME combustion turnover rates than on the individual components or on Pt clusters supported on non-acidic oxides.     

反应气氛对Ca/ZSM-5上二甲醚转化制丙烯反应的影响

在连续流动固定床反应器上,以Ca/ZSM-5分子筛为催化剂,考察了氮气、一氧化碳、二氧化碳、合成气和水蒸气气氛对二甲醚制丙烯（DTP）反应催化剂的稳定性和丙烯选择性以及副产物选择性的影响,同时考察了失活催化剂再生后催化性能的变化。实验结果表明,反应气氛对DTP体系具有一定的影响。其中,以二氧化碳为反应气氛时催化剂稳定性最好,丙烯选择性最高,副产物选择性较低;一氧化碳、合成气、氮气的效果次之;水蒸气的效果最差。再生后催化剂的性能表明,CO₂作反应气氛对DTP生成有利。     

Numerical investigation of the effects of inlet valve closing temperature and exhaust gas recirculation on the performance and emissions of an RCCI engine

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - In this paper, the effects of inlet valve closing temperature (TIVC) and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) on the emissions and the performance of a...     

Isomer-specific influences on the composition of reaction intermediates in dimethyl ether/propene and ethanol/propene flame

This work provides experimental evidence on how the molecular compositions of fuel-rich low-pressure premixed flames are influenced as the oxygenates dimethyl ether (DME) or ethanol are incrementally blended into the propene fuel. Ten different flames with a carbon-to-oxygen ratio of 0.5, ranging from 100% propene (phi = 1.5) to 100% oxygenated fuel (phi = 2.0), are analyzed with flame-sampling molecular-beam mass spectrometry employing electron- or photoionization. Absolute mole fraction profiles for flame species with masses ranging from m/z = 2 (H2) to m/z = 80 (C6H8) are analyzed with particular emphasis on the formation of harmful emissions. Fuel-specific destruction pathways, likely to be initiated by hydrogen abstraction, appear to lead to benzene from propene combustion and to formaldehyde and acetaldehyde through DME and ethanol combustion, respectively. While the concentration of acetaldehyde increases 10-fold as propene is substituted by ethanol, it decreases as propene is replaced with DME. In contrast, the formaldehyde concentration rises only slightly with ethanol replacement but increases markedly with addition of DME. Allyl and propargyl radicals, the dominant precursors for benzene formation, are likely to be produced directly from propene decomposition or via allene and propyne. Benzene formation through propargyl radicals formed via unsaturated C2 intermediates in the decomposition of DME and ethanol is negligibly small. As a consequence, DME and ethanol addition lead to similar reductions of the benzene concentration.     

The performance,emissions, and combustion characteristics of an unmodified diesel engine running on the ternary blends of pentanol/safflower oil biodiesel/diesel fuel

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The objective of the present study is to scrutinize the influence of a binary blend of diesel–safflower oil biodiesel and ternary blends of...     

Influence of the operational parameters on the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells with different flow fields

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Analysis of the 13C natural abundance of CO2 gas from sparkling drinks by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry

A simple and rapid method to measure naturally occurring delta(13)C values of headspace CO(2) of sparkling drinks has been set up, using direct injections on a gas chromatograph coupled to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer, through a combustion interface (GC/C/IRMS). We tested the method on CO(2) gas from several origins. No significant isotopic fractionation was observed nor influences by secondary compounds eventually present in the gas phase. Standard deviation for these measurements was found to be <0.1 per thousand.     

氧体积分数对炭黑燃烧特性影响的热天平研究

利用热天平对天然气扩散火焰中生成的炭黑在不同氧体积分数下（21%、15%、10%和5%）的燃烧特性进行了研究，选用蜡烛炭黑、4种工业炭黑以及无烟煤焦炭作为对比。基于试验结果确定了燃烧特性参数，并分析了燃烧特性。天然气扩散火焰中生成的炭黑明显早于其他试样着火燃烧，着火温度在所有试样中最低，氧体积分数为21%下为483.0℃，比焦炭约低114℃，比蜡烛炭黑低近127.8℃。自制天然气炭黑可燃指数比焦炭低，着火后前期燃烧反应能力较弱。随着氧体积分数的降低，各试样着火温度在50℃内变化。比较各试样的燃尽特性可知自制天然气炭黑在不同燃尽率下的相对燃尽时间最长，氧体积分数为21%下完全燃尽为6.03min，比焦炭长21.3%。蜡烛炭黑相对燃尽时间也较长。随着氧体积分数降低，各试样燃尽时间都延长，尤其是自制天然气炭黑，氧体积分数从21%降到5%，相对燃尽时间延长2.97倍，氧体积分数降低明显延长其燃尽过程。     

Experimental study on combustion and yield characteristics of dimethyl carbonate/n-heptane blends in the cone calorimeter

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - A detail investigation of the combustion behavior of a representative ester-alkane blended fuel was conducted with the aim to get better knowledge of...     

Ion-molecule reactions in the gas phase. part XXII. Reactivity of the cis- and trans-indanediols with dimethyl ether ions

Specific reactivity of cis- and trans-indanediols has been investigated under dimethyl ether (DME) chemical ionization conditions. Several unusual species, such as [M + 29]⁺ and [M + 27]⁺ ions, are produced in high yield. From DME pressure variations and tandem mass spectrometry experiments (low-energy collisions with Ar and NH₃) including some labeled compounds, it appears that [M + 29]⁺ ions are generated by nucleophilic substitution according to a S_Ni pathway from the proton bound[M + DMEH]⁺ adduct ion. On the other hand, [M + 27]⁺ ions are produced from the covalent [M + DME ? H]⁺ adduct ions via a stepwise process inducing a water loss. This latter dehydration occurs from the adducts prepared by [DME ? H]⁺ attachment to the homobenzylic hydroxy site, which allows internal proton transfer from the charged position to the benzylic hydroxy group, promotingthe loss of water. In addition, trans indanediol labeled with ¹⁸O has been used to obtain evidence for the regioselectivity of both water-loss mechanisms from the benzylic site.     

Detection of exogenous intake of natural corticosteroids by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry: application to misuse in sport

A detailed procedure for the analysis of exogenous hydrocortisone and cortisone in urine by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS) is proposed. As urinary levels of hydrocortisone are rather low for GC/C/IRMS analysis, the focus is on the main corticosteroid metabolites, tetrahydrocortisone (THE) and tetrahydrocortisol (THF). Following different solid phase extraction purifications, THE and THF are oxidized to 5beta-androstanetrione before analysis by GC/C/IRMS. Significant differences in delta(13)C per thousand values of synthetic natural corticosteroids and endogenous human corticosteroids have been observed. Therefore, a positive criterion, to detect exogenous administration of synthetic corticosteroids in anti-doping control, is proposed.     

Numerical prediction of humidification process in planar porous membrane humidifier of a PEM fuel cell system to evaluate the effects of operating and geometrical parameters

In present study, a numerical model is employed to investigate the effects of different operating parameters and channel geometry on the performance of membrane humidifier. Simulations are performed by a commercial CFD code and based on user defined functions. Three-dimensional counter-flow humidifier model for a gas-to-gas case is considered. Results show that an increase in porosity or permeability leads to better humidification. Moreover, increase in inlet temperature of dry and wet channels as well as inlet mass flowrate of water vapor would enhance humidifying process. On the other hand, by reduction in inlet mass flowrate of gas channel and thickness of the porous medium in membrane, better humidifier performance would be achieved. To investigate the geometric parameters, three different channel types including stepped, sinusoidal and zigzag are considered. It is found that stepped geometry has the best performance in humidifying.