Emission and Combustion Characteristics of Different Diesel Fuels Produced in Kurdistan-Region - Iraq

Abstract

This investigation evaluates the impact of four distinct diesel fuel types, produced in Kurdistan, on a single-cylinder, direct-injection diesel engine's performance and emission characteristics at a compression ratio of 17. An experimental approach was adopted to examine the influence of fuel type on brake thermal efficiency (BTE), brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC), exhaust gas temperature (EGT), and emissions including carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbons (UHC), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and smoke opacity. Additionally, the study scrutinized the effects of a constant cetane number (CN) across different fuel types in relation to engine output and pollutant generation. It was found that, in comparison to diesel type 1, type 3 fuel reduced smoke opacity by up to 35% while increasing BSFC by 18.18%. CO emissions associated with types 3 and 4 were 53.84% and 34.6% lower, respectively, than those measured for type 1. Except for type 1, all tested diesel variants emitted significantly lower UHC concentrations across the full load range. Conversely, diesel type 1 was linked to higher NOx emissions. The findings suggest that types 4 and 3 diesel fuels enhance combustion and emission profiles in diesel engines, presenting a potential avenue for optimization in engine performance and environmental compliance.