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Enhancement of ABE fuel combustion and emissions in simulated cold-start GDI conditions: The impact of flash boiling injection

Author

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  • Nour, Mohamed
  • Cui, Mingli
  • Zhang, Weixuan
  • Fu, Jinhong
  • Luo, Xulin
  • Qiu, Shuyi
  • Li, Xuesong
  • Xu, Min

Abstract

This study presents an optimized injection strategy for ABE (acetone-butanol-ethanol) fuel in GDI engines, addressing cold-start challenges through the application of flash boiling injection. Three ABE fuel compositions, namely 30 %:60 %:10 % (ABE361), 10 %:60 %:30 % (ABE163), and 60 %:30 %:10 % (ABE631) by volume, were tested in a constant volume combustion chamber (CVCC). The CVCC was equipped with a flash boiling injection system, a high-speed color camera to capture spray and flame development, an FTIR to quantify emissions, and TEM to analyze the microstructure of soot particles. Under flash boiling conditions, the spray characteristics of ABE163, ABE361, and ABE631 changed considerably. Spray angles decreased, while penetration distances significantly shortened. The flame propagation speeds of ABE163 and ABE361 increased by 41 % and 5 %, respectively, while ignition delays decreased by 23 % and 35 %, respectively, but increased by 94.5 % for ABE631. Heat release rates and peak pressures increased by up to 51.4 % and 26 %, respectively. Unsaturated hydrocarbons, saturated hydrocarbons, NOx, and aldehydes decreased by up to 35 %, 36 %, 79 %, and 31 %, respectively. The size of soot aggregates reduced by up to 51 %. Therefore, the use of flash boiling spray is an excellent solution to increase the compatibility of carbon-neutral ABE fuels in GDI engines.

Suggested Citation

  • Nour, Mohamed & Cui, Mingli & Zhang, Weixuan & Fu, Jinhong & Luo, Xulin & Qiu, Shuyi & Li, Xuesong & Xu, Min, 2025. "Enhancement of ABE fuel combustion and emissions in simulated cold-start GDI conditions: The impact of flash boiling injection," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 328(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:328:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225022273
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.136585
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