Modelling of particle size distributions produced by a Diesel engine fueled with different fossil and renewable fuels under like urban and extra-urban operating conditions

Abstract The use of particle filters, both in diesel and gasoline engines, is increasingly widespread, it being the most used way to reduce the emission of this pollutant into the atmosphere. Predictive knowledge of particle size distributions, both under different operating modes or with fuels of different origin, is increasingly important and necessary. The predictive knowledge of particle distribution is a key factor when it comes to understanding the efficiency of filters and the reactivity of retained particulate matter and thereby helping the design of the regeneration processes of these filters during the lifetime of the vehicle, with the lowest fuel consumption. This work presents a phenomenological model of prediction of particle size distributions under different operating modes, typical of the urban driving conditions with four different fuels, two of fossil origin: diesel without biodiesel and gas-to-liquid derived from natural gas and two of renewable origin: biodiesel (mixture of palm and soy biodiesel) and farnesane (obtained by means of biotechnological processes of sugarcane sub-products). The results show a very good ability of the model to reproduce the particle size distributions at the engine cylinder outlet, independently of the engine mode tested and/or the fuel used.