Performance and Emissions Characteristics of a Diesel Engine Operating on Shale Oil

摘要

Jordan possesses vast reserves of unused high quality oil shale yet imports almost all its energy needs. This study addressed the evaluation of a non-petroleum liquid fuel derived from oil shale, namely, shale oil, relative to reference petroleum-based diesel fuel. Tests conducted in a single-cylinder, direct-injection diesel engine to compare these fuels in terms of performance, exhaust gaseous emissions, and particulatc matter emission at different but equal rates of energy delivery. The shale oil burned more efficiently than the baseline diesel fuel and, therefore, resulted in higher engine thermal efficiency. Furthermore, shale oil resulted in lower unburned hydrocarbons (HC) and less carbon monoxide (CO) than diesel fuel. However, shale oil produced higher levels of oxides of nitrogen (NO_x) at lower load compared to the baseline diesel fuel. Shale oil generally emitted fewer amounts of particulate matter (PM) at lower loads but more PM at higher loads.