Numerical Investigation of the Effects of Biofuel Characteristics on the Injector Nozzle Erosion Process.

It is widely known that the use of biofuels is still limited by their particular physical–chemical properties, which are less advantageous than fossil fuels (diesel and gas petro fuels). This amounts to significant apparent differences related to the functional parameters and pollutant emissions (NOx) for compression–ignition (CI) engines fueled with biofuels. Elimination of these shortcomings can be achieved via a modern injection system, an electronically controlled high-pressure common rail system. This is why achieving a precise injection process is necessary, and injection parameters are directly influenced by the phenomenon of cavitation and the erosion process of the injector nozzle. This article presents a computer simulation study of the influence of various fuels (biofuels) on the effect of erosion (and intensity) on the performance of the injection process. The magnitude of the injector nozzle erosion process is different using diesel fuel compared to using biodiesel and pure vegetable oil, implying the need for greater attention to injection system self-development design programs and to the overall maintenance characteristics of CI engines fueled with biodiesel. There are also different patterns of velocity at the nozzle exit for each of the studied cases, differences that have a direct bearing on future fuel spray development inside the combustion chamber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]