Experimental investigation of the effects of JP8 and amorphous elemental boron additives on combustion characteristics for i-DSI engine

Abstract

The combustion of conventional fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to atmospheric pollution and climate change. The use of alternative fuels in internal combustion engines represents a significant step towards mitigating these issues. In this study, the effects of JP8, a fuel used in space, missile, rocket, and aviation applications, and mixtures of amorphous elemental boron (AEB) on combustion were tested using a commercial i-DSI engine with dual spark ignition. Tests were conducted by blending gasoline with 0% (G100), 10% (JP8_10), 20% (JP8_20), 30% (JP8_30), and 40% (JP8_40) JP8 by mass. Additionally, new mixtures were tested by adding 2% AEB by mass to each gasoline-JP8 fuel (G100_2AEB, JP8_10_2AEB, JP8_20_2AEB, JP8_30_2AEB, JP8_40_2AEB). Performance metrics such as torque, power, mean pressure, specific fuel consumption, volumetric efficiency, and exhaust temperature, as well as emissions of CO, CO₂, UHC, and NO_x, were measured. The maximum performance torque from the engine catalog is 119 Nm at 2800 rpm, while the tests measured it at 105.84 Nm. Torque, power, and mean pressure, which are functions of each other, increased by 2.239% from G100 to JP8_40 compared to gasoline, and this increase was 5.125% for JP8_10_2AEB. Specific fuel consumption decreased by 5.424% with JP8_40 fuel and by 9.199% with JP8_10_2AEB fuel compared to gasoline. CO emissions decreased by 38.187% with JP8_40_2AEB fuel compared to gasoline. CO₂ emissions increased by 34.456% with JP8_40_2AEB fuel. UHC emissions decreased by 57.589% with JP8_30_2AEB fuel. NO_x emissions increased by 118.036% with JP8_40_2AEB fuel, while increasing by 124.861% with JP8_40 fuel.