Fuel Composition Effects on Heavy-Duty Diesel Particulate Emissions

Abstract

<div class="htmlview paragraph">The effects of fuel composition on diesel exhaust particulate emissions have been studied at several steady-state operating conditions using a heavy-duty laboratory engine. Particulate emissions were influenced by three primary fuel factors: sulfur content, aromatics content, and volatility. At all but lightly loaded operating conditions, fuel sulfur was the dominant fuel factor in particulate formation.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">Fuel sulfur affects particulate emissions primarily by formation of sulfate (as sulfuric acid) and associated “bound” water and, to a lesser degree, by increasing the amount of soluble organic material collected. Aromatics and volatility influence the amount of carbonaceous material formed.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">Five polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds were measured in the soluble organic fraction. Engine operating conditions greatly affected PAH levels; however, no strong influence of fuel composition on PAH concentrations was observed in the normal range of No. 1 - No. 2 diesel fuels.</div>