Combustion Performance of Waste-Derived Fuels with respect to Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel in a Compression Ignition Engine

Abstract

The ever increasing energy demand along with fast depleting non-renewable fossil fuels and global climate change has led to a search for sustainable energy resources. Fuels produced from waste, like plastic solid waste and waste cooking oil, have gained significant interest since they not only solve disposal problems but also provide a sustainable energy resource. This thesis contains detailed literature surveys, combustion analysis of a waste plastic fuel, life cycle analysis of waste plastic fuel and waste cooking oil biodiesel from well to exhaust, and optimization of combustion of waste cooking oil biodiesel by employing higher injection pressures and normalized injection timings in comparison to commercial ultra low sulfur diesel fuel (ULSD). Chapter 1 introduces the research work with the motivation behind the efforts. In addition, there is a brief discussion on prior and parallel work performed in the employed engine test cell. Moreover, this chapter describes the focus of each chapter with novel and unique findings highlighted. Chapter 2 describes a literature review to better understand the influence of fuel synthesis technique on fuel properties of waste plastic fuels. Moreover, this chapter contains a combustion analysis of waste plastic fuel blends with ULSD in order to compare performance and emission characteristics of a commercial waste plastic fuel with that of ULSD. Chapter 3 starts with a literature review to give background on the life cycle analysis and different approaches taken by previous researchers to perform life cycle analysis. This is followed by a well-to-exhaust analysis (WtE) of waste cooking oil biodiesel and waste plastic fuel at full load in comparison to ULSD. Chapter 4 details the literature review to understand general and specific findings on the influence of injection parameters on the performance and emission characteristics of compression ignition fuels. This chapter contains a detailed combustion analysis of waste cooking oil biodiesel at higher injection pressures and normalized injection timings to attempt to replicate the performance of ULSD by negating the relatively high viscosity of the test fuel. Chapter 5 summarizes major findings of this work in stages and connects the outcome of efforts to achieve optimal combustion of waste-derived fuels. Furthermore, future efforts are suggested to move towards sustainable public transportation in and around the University of Kansas campus.