The Influence of Composition and Properties of Diesel Fuel on Particulate Emissions from Heavy-Duty Engines

Total aromatics have no influence on particulate emissions. This is an unexpected finding from a comprehensive programme to determine the influence of diesel fuel properties on heavy-duty particulate emissions. 30 fuels and five engines representing a variety of manufacture/technology were tested. To reveal causative influences, key fuel properties were intentionally uncorrelated and had a wide range of values. Engine sensitivities to fuel quality were found to differ considerably. Properties that most influenced emissions were sulphur content, density and cetane number. Some engines were totally insensitive to polyaromatics but in others, small influences are possible. The emissions benefits of specific fuel property changes are quantified.