Soot particle morphology and nanostructure with oxygenated fuels: A comparative study into cold-start and hot-start operation. (15th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Verma, Puneet; Jafari, Mohammad; Zare, Ali; Pickering, Edmund; Guo, Yi; Osuagwu, Chiemeriwo Godday; Stevanovic, Svetlana; Brown, Richard; Ristovski, Zoran
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 275(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-04-15
• Subjects: Soot morphology -- Nanostructure -- Cold-start -- Biodiesel -- Diesel engine; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116592
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: This study investigates the morphology and nanostructure of soot particles during cold-start and hot-start engine operation of a diesel engine using oxygenated fuels. The soot samples were analysed using transmission electron microscopy. The oxygen content in the fuel was varied between 0 and 12%. The results showed that the primary particles during cold-start have significantly smaller size when compared to hot-start engine operation. The addition of oxygenated fuels also resulted in smaller sized primary particles. Smaller radius of gyration and higher fractal dimension of soot aggregates during cold-start would mean smaller aggregate size with a more compact structure. Shorter fringes with a higher inter-fringe spacing for cold-start would mean lower graphitisation of soot particles that could be related to higher oxidation reactivity of soot particles. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Diesel was blended with biodiesel and triacetin to vary fuel oxygen content from 0 to 12%. TEM images were analysed to characterise soot morphology and nanostructure. Primary particle diameter and fringe length increased as the engine warmed up. Fractal dimension of soot aggregates was lower during cold-start operation.