Engineering Commons^™

Effect Of Cetane Number And Volatility On Autoignition And Combustion Of Alternative Fuels And Their Surrogates, Ziliang Zheng

Wayne State University Dissertations

Diesel engine has become a popular choice for trucks, trains, boats, and most other heavy-duty applications. The inherent benefits of diesel engine are high thermal efficiency and specific power output, but there is a concern about high levels of engine-out NOx and particulate matter emissions, which is a major contributor in environment pollution. Moreover, concern about the crisis of crude oil reserves, increasing gas price, trade deficit, and homeland security enhances the interests in alternative fuels.

Unlike conventional diesel fuel, alternative fuels have wide range of properties, such as volatility, cetane number, density, viscosity and lower heating value, which influence …