Numerical simulation of a diesel engine performance powered by soybean biodiesel and diesel fuels

Abstract Background The present study presents a 3-D numerical simulation of direct injection diesel engine powered by base oil and soybean biodiesel fuel at different load conditions. modeling was performed using commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software linked to chemical solver. A kinetic reaction mechanism developed simulate the combustion spray processes. Base results were verified single-cylinder, 4-stroke engine. Results showed that usage caused reduction in carbon monoxide (CO) hydrocarbon (HC) emissions about 42.38% 41.35%, compared with an increase nitrogen oxides (NO x ) dioxide (CO 2 21.8% 11.2%, respectively. Exhaust gas temperature (EGT) is reduced average value 9.4%, brake-specific consumption (BSFC) increased 11.8% brake thermal efficiency (BTE) dropped 11.3% for fuel. Conclusions CFD model effect unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters on spatial distributed values NO , oxygen during cylinder. It observed began 3.89 CAD earlier than diesel, in-cylinder peak pressure 8.25%. Soybean optimized performing four starts (SOI) timings − 18, 16, 15 13,5 bTDC, it found characteristics are optimum SOI = bTDC. These indicate can be used as alternative environmentally friendly without any modifications.