Simultaneous reduction in the exhaust emissions by a high exhaust gas recirculation ratio in a dimethyl-ether-fuelled diesel engine at a low-load operating condition

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the exhaust gas recirculation rate on the combustion and exhaust emission reduction characteristics of dimethyl ether fuel in a single-cylinder diesel engine. To investigate the effects on emission reduction, the test set-up was composed of a dimethyl ether supply system, a spray visualization system, an engine combustion system and an emissions analysis system. In this work, the spray visualization and exhaust emissions were measured using a high-speed camera with a metal halide lamp, a smoke meter and an emission gas analyser. The spray tip penetration and tip velocity of dimethyl ether fuel were lower than those of conventional diesel fuel. The reduction slope of the spray cone angle for dimethyl ether was less than that for diesel fuel owing to its low density and superior evaporation characteristics. The increase in the exhaust gas recirculation rate caused an extension of the ignition delay for dimethyl ether. During the extended ignition delay, the improved mixing characteristics influenced the slight decrease in the combustion period. An increase in the exhaust gas recirculation rate caused a significant reduction in the emission of nitrogen oxides. In addition, the soot emission was very low owing to the intrinsic characteristics of dimethyl ether (no direct carbon–carbon bonds). At the given equivalence ratio condition, the indicated specific hydrocarbon and indicated specific carbon monoxide emissions for dimethyl ether were extremely low when dimethyl ether spray was injected into the piston bowl (from 25° before top dead centre to top dead centre). Also, in this case, a change in the exhaust gas recirculation rate for dimethyl ether combustion had minimal effects on the indicated specific hydrocarbon and indicated specific carbon monoxide emissions. These results suggest that the use of high exhaust gas recirculation with dimethyl ether fuel can achieve near-zero exhaust emissions (nitrogen oxides, soot, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide).