Effects of Dimethylcarbonate-Biodiesel Blends on the Combustion, Performance and Exhaust Emissions of a DI Diesel Engine

An experimental investigation is carried out to evaluate the effects of biodiesel-dimethylcarbonate (DMC) blends on the combustion, performance and emission characteristics of a diesel engine at different loads and constant engine speed. The results show that for a specific engine load, the ignition delay increases and the total combustion duration decreases with the increase of DMC fraction in the blends. Compared with biodiesel, for a specific engine load, the BC blends have lower peak cylinder pressure and cylinder temperature at almost all engine loads. The heat release rate is higher at higher engine loads during premixed combustion phase for BC blends than for biodiesel. In comparison with biodiesel, the BC blends have slightly higher brake thermal efficiency. Drastic reduction in smoke is observed with BC blends at higher engine loads. The NO_x emissions are found slightly lower for BC blends at all loads. With the higher percentage of DMC in the blends, the CO and HC emissions are found higher at almost all loads.