Waste Plastic Pyrolytic Oil Blends as Valuable Fuels for Modern Compression Ignition Engines

This study tests the use of thoroughly-evaluated waste plastic pyrolytic oils (WPOs) as substitute fuels in a modern, single-cylinder, diesel research engine. Emissions results are supported by FTIR analysis of exhaust gases, identifying 20 species. The results show that contemporary Tier 4-compliant combustion systems with split injection can handle high polypropylene-based WPO content in diesel fuel without re-calibration. Combustion phasing is delayed only at near-idle loads. Hydrocarbon and CO emissions are elevated, but to an acceptable extent. Engine fueling with high admixtures of polystyrene- based WPO results in unstable combustion at low loads and emission issues across the whole load range.