Matthias Thewes, M. Muether, S. Pischinger
Nov 22, 2011
Citations
2
Influential Citations
164
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Quality indicators
Journal
Energy & Fuels
Abstract
Within the Cluster of Excellence “Tailor-Made Fuels from Biomass”, a new reaction sequence to transform biomass into 2-methylfuran has been developed. In the present study, the influence of this potential biofuel on in-cylinder spray formation and evaporation as well as engine performance is studied experimentally using a direct-injection spark-ignition single-cylinder research engine. The results obtained for 2-methylfuran are benchmarked against investigation on the same engine using conventional research octane number (RON) 95 fuel and ethanol. The in-cylinder spray formation and evaporation process is characterized by high-speed Mie scattering visualizations, indicating quicker evaporation of 2-methylfuran compared to ethanol. Engine experiments support the findings of the optical measurements by revealing excellent combustion stability, especially in cold conditions, combined with a hydrocarbon emission reduction of at least 61 % in the relevant spark timing range compared to conventional fuel. The e...