Numerical Investigation of Ethanol-Enriched Diesel and Biodiesel Fuels in a Diesel Engine

Annisa Bhikuning, Hezron Elyakim Potto, Sandi Apriandi Setiawan, Jamal F. Jati

Abstract


This study explores the effects of ethanol blending on the performance and emissions of a compression ignition (CI) engine using both diesel and biodiesel as base fuels. Motivated by increasing environmental concerns regarding pollutant emissions from conventional diesel engines, ethanol was introduced as an oxygenated additive to improve combustion characteristics and reduce the formation of harmful exhaust emissions. Ethanol’s high oxygen content promotes more complete combustion, potentially lowering carbon-based emissions such as carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM), and unburned hydrocarbons. In this study, performance and emission parameters were simulated using Diesel-RK software at various engine speeds of 1500, 2000, and 2200 rpm, with ethanol blending ratios of 10%, 20%, 35%, and 50%. The simulations measured specific fuel consumption (SFC), brake mean effective pressure (BMEP), Sauter mean diameter (SMD) of fuel droplets, and emissions including carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), PM, and smoke opacity. The results indicated that a 35% ethanol blend delivered the most favorable balance between performance enhancement and emission reduction. Notably, SFC was reduced by up to 5.42% and 4.81% at 1500 and 2200 rpm, respectively. Furthermore, CO₂ emissions dropped significantly, by 9.23% and 9.11% at 2000 and 2200 rpm for biodiesel-ethanol blends. Additionally, PM and smoke showed substantial decreases. These findings suggest that ethanol blends in the range of 20% to 35% are optimal for enhancing the sustainability and environmental compatibility of CI engines by reducing emissions while maintaining engine performance.

Keywords


CI engine, diesel-RK simulation, emission reduction, engine performance, ethanol blending.

Full Text:

PDF

References


P.A. Owusu, J.K. Borkloe, and Y. Mahamud, "Challenges towards sustainable energy as a substitute for fossil fuels for the case of municipal waste management," Journal of Energy, Environmental & Sustainable Engineering and Technology (JEESET), vol. 7, no. 1, Apr. 2024, doi: 10.25105/jeeset.v7i1.18798.

H.E. Potto, A. Sudarson, M.H. Pamungkas, and A. Bhikuning, “The influence of fuel type on motorcycle vehicle exhaust emission tests,” Jurnal Polimesin, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 371–377, Aug. 2024.

W. Li, Z. Dong, L. Miao, G. Wu, Z. Deng, J. Zhao, and W. Huang, "On-road evaluation and regulatory recommendations for NOx and particle number emissions of China VI heavy-duty diesel trucks: A case study in Shenzhen," Science of The Total Environment, vol. 928, p. 172427, 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172427.

K.M. Lukman, L.P. Hastuti, D. Oktavia, D. Pratiwi, Y. Uchiyama, and D. Harding, "Towards blue skies: A comprehensive review and regional mapping of ambient air quality in Indonesian cities," Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 389, p. 126132, 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.126132

J.L. Breuer, R.C. Samsun, R. Peters, and D. Stolten, "The impact of diesel vehicles on NOx and PM10 emissions from road transport in urban morphological zones: A case study in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany," Science of The Total Environment, vol. 727, p. 138583, 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138583.

A. Bhikuning, “The simulation of performance and emissions from rapeseed and soybean methyl ester in different injection pressures,” Automotive Experiences, vol 4, no. 3, pp. 112-118. 2021, doi: 10.31603/ae.4682.

J.F. Jati and A. Bhikuning, “Fuel parameter analysis from kerosene blended with biodiesel and diesel fuel,” IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, vol. 1104, no. 1, p. 012036, 2022, doi: 10.1088/1755‑1315/1104/1/012036.

S. Campli, K. Pratik, J. Moreshwar, K. Anish, S.V. Channapattana, A Madhusudan, A. Kiran, and G. Shivaji, “Effect of fuel injection timing on CI engine fuelled with neem biodiesel blends–a comparative study of experimental and numerical simulation,” International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 395-406, 2022, doi: 10.1007/s40095‑021‑00429‑6.

A. Bhikuning, E. Matsumura, and J. Senda,” Performance and emission characteristics of biodiesel waste cooking oil water-emulsions under varying engine load condition,” Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects, vol. 45, no. 4, pp. 11036-11045, 2023.

A. Bhikuning and J. Senda, “The properties of fuel and characterization of functional groups in biodiesel-water emulsions from waste cooking oil and its blends,” Indonesian Journal of Science and Technology, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 95-108, 2020, doi: 10.17509/ijost.v5i1/23087.

B. Setiawan and A. Bhikuning, “Fuel and boiling point analysis in mixing between ethanol with bio-diesel and diesel fuel,” IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, vol. 1104, no. 1, p.012040, 2022, doi: 10.1088/1755‑1315/1104/1/012040.

F. Hamdi, I. Yahya, M. Gassoumi, Z. Boutar, R.M.R.A. Shah, M. Al Qubeissi, R. Ennetta, and H.S. Soyhan, “Effects of ethanol addition to diesel–biodiesel blends on the CI engine characteristics,” Science and Technology for Energy Transition, vol. 79, p. 33, 2024, doi: 10.2516/stet/2024033.

Z. Wang and L. Li, “Effects of different ethanol/diesel blending ratios on combustion and emission characteristics of a medium-speed diesel engine,” Processes, vol. 10, no. 1, p.173, 2022, doi: 10.3390/pr10010173.

E.S.d.C. Freitas, L.L.N. Guarieiro, M.V.I. da Silva, K.K.d.S. Amparo, B.A.S. Machado, E.T.d.A. Guerreiro et al. “Emission and performance evaluation of a diesel engine using addition of ethanol to Diesel/Biodiesel fuel blend,” Energies, vol. 15, no. 9, p.2988, 2022, doi: 10.3390/en15092988.

B.C. Benea, “The effect of added ethanol to diesel fuel on performance and combustion of a diesel engine,” IOP Conference Series. Materials Science and Engineering, vol. 1220, no. 1, p.012005, 2022, doi: 10.1088/1757‑899X/1220/1/012005.

M.T. Chaichan, N.S. Ekab, M.A. Fayad, and H.A. Dhahad,”PM and NOX emissions amelioration from the combustion of diesel/ethanol-methanol blends applying exhaust gas recirculation (EGR),” IOP Conference Series. Earth and Environmental Science, vol. 961, no. 1, p. 012044, 2022, doi: 10.1088/1755‑1315/961/1/012044.

N. Klinkaew, E. Sukjit, and T. Dolwichai, “Crude castor oil as blend component in diesel/ethanol fuel blend: Combustion characteristics and exhaust emissions,” IOP Conference Series. Materials Science and Engineering, vol. 717, no. 1, 2020, doi: 10.1088/1757-899X/717/1/012003

N.K. Balakrishnan, Y.H. Teoh, H.G. How, T.D. Le, and H.T. Nguyen, “An experimental investigation on the characteristics of a compression ignition engine fuelled by diesel-palm biodiesel–ethanol/propanol based ternary blends,” Energies, vol. 16, no. 2, p. 1003, 2023, doi: 10.3390/en16021003.

Diesel RK. https://diesel-rk.com/Eng/index.php?page=History. Cited on December 2nd 2024.

A. Bhikuning, Z.R. Irhashi, and D. Aldebaran, "The simulation of combustion characteristics from diesel fuel and biodiesel in different engine rotation," Aceh International Journal of Science & Technology, vol. 11, no. 3, Dec. 2022, doi: 10.13170/aijst.11.3.22711.

A. Bhikuning, X. Li, S. Koshikawa, E. Matsumura, and J. Senda, “An experimental investigation of bio-hydro fined oil and waste cooking oil in direct injection diesel engine,” Harris Science Review Doshisha, vol. 60, no. 3, pp. 133-140, 2019.

J.B. Heywood, “Internal Combustion Engine Fundamentals”, McGraw-Hill Series, 1988.

N. Chideme and P. de Vaal, “Effect of liquid viscosity and surface tension on the spray droplet size and the measurement thereof,” Journal of Applied Fluid Mechanics, vol. 17, no. 12, pp. 2652–2672, 2024, doi:10.47176/jafm.17.2.2532.

H.K. Suh and C.S. Lee, “A review on atomization and exhaust emissions of a biodiesel-fueled compression ignition engine.” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 58, pp.1601–1620, 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2015.12.329.

L. Zhu, C. Cheung, W. Zhang, and Z. Huang, “Emissions characteristics of a diesel engine operating on biodiesel and biodiesel blended with ethanol and methanol,” Science of the Total Environment, vol. 408, no. 4, pp.914-21, 2010, doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.10.078.

Z. Wang and L. Li, “Effects of different ethanol/diesel blending ratios on combustion and emission characteristics of a medium-speed diesel engine,” Processes, vol. 10, no. 1, p. 173, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.3390/pr10010173

A. Tamilvanan, K. Balamurugan, B. Bragadeshwaran, P. Selvakumar, S. Dhamotharan, M. Bharathiraja, and V. Karthickeyan, “Effect of diethyl ether and ethanol as an oxygenated additive on Calophyllum inophyllum biodiesel in CI engine,” Environmental Science and Pollution Research, vol. 28, no. 26, pp. 33880–33898, 2021, doi: 10.1007/s11356-020-10624-3.

S. Chen, J. Tian, J. Li, W. Li, and Z. Zhang, “Investigation of the performance and emission characteristics of a diesel engine with different diesel-methanol dual-fuel ratios,” Processes, vol. 9, no. 11, p. 1944, Nov. 2021, doi: 10.3390/pr9111944.

S.K. Yoon, “Investigation on the combustion and emission characteristics in a diesel engine fueled with diesel-ethanol blends,” Applied Sciences, vol. 12, no. 19, p. 9980, 2022, doi: 10.3390/app12199980.

K. Górski, D. Tziourtzioumis, R. Smigins, and R. Longwic, “Effects of ethanol–diesel blends on cylinder pressure, ignition delay, and NOₓ emissions in a diesel engine,” Energies, vol. 18, no. 9, p. 2392, 2025, doi: 10.3390/en18092392.

H. Taghavifar and S. Anvari, “An insight into diesel–ethanol and diesel–biodiesel blends spraying and co-combustion in HSDI diesel engine”, Arab J Sci Eng, vol. 45, pp. 5075–5085, 2020, doi: 10.1007/s13369-020-04343-7.

V. Shanthan, J. Suryawanshi, R. Tarodiya et al. Numerical analysis of spray characterization of blends of hydrous ethanol with diesel and biodiesel. Sci Rep, vol. 14, p. 5726, 2024, doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-56444-0.

M. Sikora, P. Orliński, and M. Bednarski, “Impact of ethanol–diesel blend on CI engine performance and emissions,” Energies, vol. 18, no. 9, p. 2277, 2025, doi: 10.3390/en18092277.

L. Geng, J. Shi, W. Zuo, and H. Li, “Experimental and numerical analysis of the spray characteristics of biodiesel–ethanol fuel blends,” Fuel, vol. 295, no.120593, 2021, doi: 10.1177/003754971987024.

Y.H. Tan, M.O. Abdullah, C. Nolasco-Hipolito, N.S.A. Zauzi, and G.W. Abdullah, “Engine performance and emissions characteristics of a diesel engine fueled with diesel-biodiesel-bioethanol emulsions,” Energy Conversion Management. 132, pp. 54-64, 2017, doi: 10.1016/j.enconman.2016.11.013.

X. Shi, Y. Yu, H. He, S. Shuai, J. Wang, and R. Li, “Emission characteristics using methyl soyate–ethanol–diesel fuel blends on a diesel engine,” Fuel, vol. 84, no. 12, pp. 1543-9, 2005, doi: 10.1016/j.fuel.2005.03.001.

F. Hamdi, I. Yahya, M. Gassoumi, Z. Boutar, R.M.R.A. Shah, M.A. Qubeissi, R. Ennetta, and H.S. Soyhan, “Effects of ethanol addition to diesel–biodiesel blends on the CI engine characteristics,” Science and Technology for Energy Transition, vol. 79, p. 33, 2024, doi:10.2516/stet/2024033.




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17977/10.17977/um016v9i22025p379

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

View My Stats