The Influence of Water and DEE as Additives with Diesel Fuel in a Light Duty Diesel Engine Generator-An Experimental Investigation

Abstract

Currently, our global environment has been affected due to the air pollution caused by many sectors (such as automotive, industrial, transportation) in higher magnitudes. Many environmentalists, scientists, researchers and engineers have contributed their efforts to eradicate the air pollution. It is well known noted that most of the harmful pollutants were evolved from diesel engine power engines/plants. Considering the objective of enhancing performance and reducing harmful emissions of diesel engine, the current research work has been conducted on mixing DEE (Di-Ethyl Ether) and normal water with normal diesel fuel in definite quantities. Five stages of investigations were carried out to perform the task of blending water and DEE with the normal diesel fuel. In the first stage, to obtain the baseline readings, normal diesel fuel was experimented in a light duty constant speed diesel engine. Normal water (2% & 4% by vol.) was combined with the normal diesel fuel with the aid of emulsifiers (Span80 & Tween80) and mechanical stirrer (speed of 3000 rpm) to obtain the water blended diesel emulsion fuels in the second stage. In the third stage, DEE was mixed with water-emulsion fuels which were prepared in the second stage. The stability and properties of fuels was determined in the fourth stage. In the fifth stage, the prepared stable DEE-water-diesel emulsion fuels were tested in a light duty constant speed diesel engine generator and eventually compared to those readings of normal diesel fuel. Experimental outcome from all the tested fuels revealed that water and DEE mixed emulsion fuels reflected better performance and reduced harmful emission attributes.