Optimization of methanol powered diesel engine: A CFD approach

A two-stage strategy of emission reduction is applied to a single cylinder diesel locomotive to fulfill more stringent emission norms. First stage includes, the maximum possible emission reduction of diesel - methanol fuel through numerical simulation at low load operating condition. The higher emission reduction blend of diesel - methanol fuel is termed as 'optimum blend'. Then, in the second stage, further emission reduction is attained by the application of three different methods of emission reduction at same operating condition. These methods are initial swirl ratio, EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) and water addition. The commercially available CFD software AVL FIRE is used to perform simulation on a Kirloskar single cylinder diesel engine (model TV1). After selection of optimum blend from diesel-methanol fuel, effects of swirl ratio (1.0, 1.3, 1.6 and 2), variation in EGR percentage (10% and 20%) and effects of water addition (5%, 10% and 15%) in optimum blend is analyzed in terms of emission parameters. Furthermore, performance parameters (BSFC and BTE) are too analyzed for diesel fuel, diesel - methanol fuel and effective method from three emission reduction methods. The numerical simulation shows that, the water addition method is more efficient than the other two methods because it tends to reduce emissions effectively.