Motivation:
With the implementation of extremely stringent environmental
regulations and dwindling petroleum supplies worldwide, there
is tremendous interest in the use of Alternative fuels such
as Fischer-Tropsch (synthetic) and Biofuel, which are non-petroleum
based.
The
use of these fuels on current engines requires a complete understanding
of the impact of fuel composition parameters such as density,
cetane number, sulphur and aromatic content on combustion performance,
fuel economy and emissions when used in combination with current
engine emission reduction technologies such as exhaust gas recirculation
(EGR) and variable geometry turbocharging (VGT).
Biodiesel
and Fischer-Tropsch diesel fuel are attractive due their low
sulphur content which favors lower particulate emissions and
increases the life of catalysts. The Army (TARDEC) is particularly
interested in using Fischer-Tropsch synthetic fuel, since it
contains no sulfur and low aromatics and hence has the potential
of being a "reformable" fuel to be used in fuel cells.
It also has the benefit of having both lower NOx and PM emissions
and can come from natural resources within the US, reducing
the US dependence on foreign oil.