MINISTRY OF EDU. & TRAINING MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT
HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF TRANSPORT
TRAN VIET DUNG
RESEARCH ON THE USE OF ULSD-BIODIESEL FUEL
BLEND ON MARINE DIESEL ENGINES
Speciality: Mechanical Engineering
Code: 9520116
Supervisors 1: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan
Supervisors 2: Prof. Dr. Le Anh Tuan
PHD DISSERTATION SUMARY
HO CHI MINH CITY - 2021
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This dissertation was completed at Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport
Supervisors 1: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan
Supervisors 2: Prof. Dr. Le Anh Tuan
Reviewer 1:
Reviewer 2:
Reviewer 3:
This dissertation will be defended before the Dissertation Evaluation Council
meets at Ho Chi Minh City
University of Transport at .....hours.......minute,
date........................................................, 2021.
This dissertation can be found at the library:
- Library of Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport;
- Nationnal Library of Viet Nam.
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INTRODUCTION
Urgency
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) mandated the use of ultra-low
sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel in shipping from January 1, 2020. Compliance with the
new regulation on sulfur content in the fuel used for ships when ships operate in
an emission control area can be achieved by using fuel with a sulfur content of
0,0015% at all times of ship operation or switching from high-sulfur fuel to
0,0015% sulfur fuel when the ship enters an emission control area.
Fuel switching during the ship operation can present a number of problems
related to fuel characteristics such as viscosity, lubricity, flash point, combustion
quality. Therefore, for ships using ULSD fuel, it is necessary to equip a cooler
system to overcome the disadvantage of ultra-low viscosity like ULSD.
Due to this reason, the combination of two fuel types such as ultra low-
viscosity ULSD and high-viscosity Biodiesel (BO) fuel aiming to form a new fuel
type, which satisfies not only the required viscosity and renewable properties but
also the requirement of reducing the cost of ship operation will have a great
significance in terms of economy, technology and emissions. However, the
homogeneity of the fuel after mixing is found to depend mainly on the mixing
method.
Currently, mechanical fuel mixing technologies have been being mainly used,
indicating that the quality of mixed fuel only stands at an acceptable level as well
as the mixing time is quite long. Meanwhile, using ultrasonic waves to create
shocks from the bubbles appearing within the 2 liquid phases is considered as a
potential solution to improve the homogeneity of the 2 liquid-phase blend such as
ULSD fuel and Biodiesel.
Based on the above-mentioned reasons, the method of using ultrasonic waves
has been chosen to mix ULSD and Biodiesel fuels to produce a homogeneous fuel
type with some properties similar to traditional diesel fuel for the using purpose
for ships aiming to meet IMO regulations, to reduce operating costs, and to protect
the environment.
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Therefore, the issue of "Research on the use of ULSD-Biodiesel fuel blend
on marine diesel engines" was selected as a novel topic in this doctoral
dissertation.
Goals
- Overview on solutions of using ULSD fuel for marine diesel engines;
- Research, design, and fabrication of equipment/system using ultrasonic waves
to produce homogeneous fuel blend of ULSD and Biodiesel;
- Carrying out experimental studies to evaluate the techno-economic aspects,
and emission and combustion characteristics, and performance parameters of a
marine diesel engine when using the homogenous fuel blend of ULSD-Biodiesel
as an alternative fuel.
Object and scope
- Small ship diesel engines with the range of power from 50 hp to 100 hp;
- Traditional diesel fuel with 0.05% sulfur content, ULSD with 0.001% sulfur
content, and Biodiesel originated from coconut oil;
- Fabrication of ultrasonic wave-based equipment/system to produce
homogeneous fuel blend;
- Fuel supply system, exhaust system, and control and test system of the engine;
- Testing equipment for engine power and emissions parameters.
Methodology
- Theoretical research methods on the breakup mechanism of molecular
structure by ultrasonic waves with experimental studies on determining the
relationship between ultrasonic power and wavelength were applied;
- Updated models associated with the fuel injection, mixture formation, and
combustion in diesel engines as using ULSD-Biodiesel homogenous fuels in
order to evaluate the influence of ULSD-Biodiesel homogenous fuels on the
economic and technical parameters of the tested diesel engine were studied;
- The experimentally controlled method to evaluate the impact of switching
marine diesel engines using ULSD-Biodiesel homogenous fuels on the economic
and technical parameters compared to the case of using traditional diesel fuel was
used. In addition, The injection characteristics of ULSD-Biodiesel homogenous
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fuels were also performed as a basis for explaining the process of fuel-air mixture
formation, combustion, and emissions.
Scientific and practical significance
Scientific significance
The results obtained from this doctoral dissertation are considered as a reliable
scientific basis and could be used as a good reference for research institutes and
universities in the maritime field for teaching and researching the use of very low
sulfur fuel for marine diesel engines.
Practical significance
Combining ultra-low viscosity fuel (ULSD) with high-viscosity Biodiesel fuel
to form a homogeneous blend with the required viscosity, renewable properties,
and reduced operating costs has offered great significance in terms of economy,
technology, and emissions.
Novelty
- Building and systemizing the theoretical basis for homogenous mixing of two
liquid phases by ultrasonic waves;
- Successful design and fabrication of a system for produce a homogenous blend
of ULSD-Biodiesel by ultrasonic waves aiming to meet the current technical and
quality standards of Vietnam;
- Carrying out the standard tests and critical evaluation of the techno-economic
characteristics of marine diesel engines when using ULSD-Biodiesel
homogenous fuel blend.
Structure
The doctoral dissertation consists of an introduction, 4 chapters of main
study content, a general conclusion, and a development direction. The entire
doctoral dissertation is presented in 123 pages, 27 tables, and 56 figures and
graphs.
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
1.1. Overview of fuels used for marine diesel engines and MARPOL 73/78
Annex
1.2. Overview of ULSD fuel