Abstract
The effect of the biodiesel fuel injection temperature on the combustion and emissions characteristics is investigated numerically in a direct-injection diesel engine. In this three-dimensional simulation study, methyl butanoate (MB) is applied as the surrogate of biodiesel fuel, and a detailed chemical kinetic mechanism of MB containing 41 species and 150 reactions is implemented. The results indicate that preheating the biodiesel fuel plays an important role in the spray and atomization processes, especially when the engine operates under the low-temperature condition. Furthermore, the in-cylinder flow turbulence kinetic energy increases and the flame lift-off length shortens with an increase in the fuel injection temperature. The increase in the fuel injection temperature results in a decrease in the equivalence ratio in the fuel-rich area. The results also reveal that both soot and nitrogen oxide emissions are reduced by preheating the biodiesel fuel.
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