426516

Optimizing Performance and Emissions in Fixed-Speed Diesel Power Plants Using Ethanol-Biodiesel-Diesel Fuel Blends

Article

Last updated: 11 May 2025

Subjects

-

Tags

Mechanical power engineering

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of using ethanol and biodiesel in diesel fuel blends on the performance and emissions of a fixed-speed diesel engine used in power plants. The blend leverages ethanol's high oxygen content and cooling properties, combined with biodiesel's renewable nature and favorable combustion characteristics, to improve engine efficiency and reduce pollutant emissions. Blending these fuels with diesel enables a sustainable, cost-effective fuel option that can help mitigate environmental impacts without compromising power output in stationary applications. A quantitative analysis of a diesel engine operating with a blend of 70% diesel, 20% biodiesel, and 10% ethanol by volume (D70B20E10) demonstrated a 5% reduction in specific fuel consumption compared to conventional diesel fuel, decreasing from 0.28 kg/kWh to 0.266 kg/kWh. The oxygenation effect of both ethanol and biodiesel helped reduce particulate matter (PM) emissions by 40%, while nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions dropped by 15% due to the ethanol-induced cooling effect, which lowered peak combustion temperatures. Additionally, under continuous load operation, the brake thermal efficiency improved by approximately 6%, rising from 35% with standard diesel to 37.1% with the D70B20E10 blend. These results illustrate that the use of ethanol-biodiesel-diesel blends offers a feasible pathway to enhance fuel efficiency and lower emissions in fixed-speed diesel engines, providing a valuable strategy for cleaner energy production in power plant applications.

DOI

10.21608/pesj.2025.369019.1021

Keywords

Diesel Engine Power Plants, Specific fuel consumption, Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Sustainability Challenge

Authors

First Name

Medhat

Last Name

Elkelawy

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Mechanical engineering department, Faculty of Engineering, Pharos University in Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt Department of Mechanical Power Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt

Email

medhatelkelawy@f-eng.tanta.edu.eg

City

-

Orcid

0000-0002-4191-9772

First Name

Marwan

Last Name

Essam Fathy

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Mechanical engineering department, Faculty of Engineering, Pharos University in Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt

Email

202003844@pua.edu.eg

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Hagar

Last Name

Bastawissi

MiddleName

Alm-Eldin

Affiliation

Department of Mechanical Power Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt

Email

hagaralmeldin@f-eng.tanta.edu.eg

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Hussein

Last Name

Seleem

MiddleName

Eltaibee

Affiliation

Electronics and Communications Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University

Email

hussein.eltaibee@pua.edu.eg

City

Tanta

Orcid

0000-0002-2936-5447

Volume

2

Article Issue

1

Related Issue

54245

Issue Date

2025-06-01

Receive Date

2025-03-17

Publish Date

2025-06-01

Page Start

219

Page End

229

Online ISSN

3009-6197

Link

https://pesj.journals.ekb.eg/article_426516.html

Detail API

http://journals.ekb.eg?_action=service&article_code=426516

Order

426,516

Type

Technical letters

Type Code

3,166

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Pharos Engineering Science Journal

Publication Link

https://pesj.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Optimizing Performance and Emissions in Fixed-Speed Diesel Power Plants Using Ethanol-Biodiesel-Diesel Fuel Blends

Details

Type

Article

Created At

11 May 2025