For the past years, Different Philippine local regulations have been imposed to address oil importation and to address environment concerns. One requirement is reduced emission from diesel engines and at the same time enable technologies that require cleaner fuels to function properly. In the Philippines, the Clean Air Act limits the exhaust emission of category 1 vehicles to 2.72 g/km CO and 0.97 g/km HC+NOx while the Biofuels Act mandates a minimum of 2% blend of biodiesel by volume for commercial use. Alongside with this, there arose a necessity to modify diesel engines and increase the level of sophistication of its fuel systems, engine management and exhaust treatment, Common rail is a fundamental change in diesel engine and is recognized as a change that improved emission and fuel economy. 

This study is concerned with the performance and emission characteristics of an in-use passenger van with a common rail direct injection engine fuelled by 0%, 2%, 5% 10% and 20% Coconut Methyl Ester(CME)-diesel blends. The experiment consisted of Japanese 10-15 standard drive cycle test, steady state test at 40,60, & 80 kph was performed in the Vehicle Research and Testing Laboratory in the University of the Philippines Diliman equipped with chassis dynamometer, fuel flow meter and emissions analyzer. Performance parameters measured are Power, Specific Fuel Consumption and Mileage, while emission characteristics for CO, NOx, THC are measured. PM measurements were not measured for this experiment.

Drive cycle test results showed up to 4.8% and 4.5% improvements in specific fuel consumption and mileage, respectively both at 5%CME blended fuel. Emission characteristics obtained up to 29.5%, 64%, and 9.16% CO, THC and NOx reduction, respectively. 

On the other hand, steady state test results showed up to 5.76%, 8.0% and 8.5% improvement in specific fuel consumption at 40, 60 and 80 km/h, respectively all at 5%CME blended fuel. CO and THC emissions showed a general decreasing trend for all the speeds which agrees with published literature and can be attributed to overall lean mixtures and in the increase in oxygenated fuel at higher CME blends. However, NOx emission showed a decreasing trend at speeds of 40 and 60 km/h while an increasing trend at 80 km/h thus saying it needs further investigation

. Average power produced for all the speeds was basically constant for all the blends as compared with neat diesel. Lastly, maximum power showed insignificant changes although majority of the blends showed a minimal power reduction as compared to neat diesel. 


Investigation of Performance and Emissions of a Crdi Passenger Van Fuelled With Coconut Methyl Ester-Diesel Blends Using Drive Cycle and Steady Speed Operation

Division / Sponsor:
Advanced Energy Systems Division (AESD) & Solar Energy Division (SED)

Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/ES/ES2020/volume/83631

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