Advantages of converting Diesel engines to run as dual fuel ethanol–Diesel

The paper considers the option to convert a Diesel engine to work as dual fuel with Diesel and ethanol following the experience of the Diesel heavy duty truck engines conversion to dual fuel Diesel and LNG. This opportunity requires the development of dedicated dual fuel injectors for the Diesel and the ethanol in small bore applications, or the simple addition of a second ethanol injector in large bore engines. Then, proving a second fuel tank is added, a car or a truck could run with either all Diesel or a small Diesel and the most part ethanol, typically 5% and 95% in fuel energy. For this latter operation, prior, concurrent or post injection of the Diesel may permit operation Diesel-like, mixed gasoline/Diesel or mixed gasoline/HCCI of the engine to achieve even better fuel conversion efficiencies than the Diesel only over the full range of speeds and loads with all the advantages of the renewable ethanol in terms of environment and energy security.

► Diesel engines may be converted ethanol–Diesel with minimum changes. ► The engine may operate Diesel, gasoline, mixed Diesel/gasoline and HCCI-like. ► In the operation Diesel-like, the efficiency of the Diesel only is retained.