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 that most of the harmful pollutants are evolved from diesel engine power engines/plants. Considering the objective of enhancing performance and reducing harmful emissions from diesel engine, the current research work has been conducted on mixing Di-Ethyl Ether (DEE) and normal water with normal diesel fuel in definite quantities. The study was carried out in five stages to blend water and DEE with standard 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 volume) was combined with the normal diesel fuel with the aid of emulsifiers (Span 80 & Tween 80) and mechanical stirrer (speed of 3,000 rpm) to obtain the water-blended diesel emulsion fuels in the second stage. In the third stage, DEE was mixed with water-emulsion fuels prepared in the second stage. The stability and properties of the fuels were 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 with those 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.