Influence on Performance and Emissions of an Automotive Diesel Engine Fueled with Biodiesel and Paraffinic Fuels: GTL and Biojet Fuel Farnesane

Abstract

The effects of a paraffinic biofuel (farnesane) obtained from sugar cane, a gas to liquid (GTL) fuel, and a biodiesel fuel on performance and emissions of a light duty engine were evaluated. Similar engine performance is obtained with all fuels maintaining the default electronic control unit (ECU) configuration. Clear reductions in total hydrocarbon (THC) emissions were observed with all alternative fuels, and, comparing both paraffinic fuels, farnesane was more beneficial. Reductions were also obtained with these fuels in particle emissions, with the exception of the mode G, which is not an operating mode included in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), where particle number concentration of paraffinic fuels was higher compared with diesel and biodiesel fuels. This behavior could be explained by the nonoptimization of ECU at this engine work condition. The benefits in terms of pollutant emission obtained with farnesane make it a potential biofuel for use in diesel engines.