Sustainable power generation from a dual fuel diesel engine in the presence of biodiesel, bioethanol and biogas: evaluation using the life cycle method

The investigation of alternative fuels, such as biodiesel, have been prompted by the detrimental emissions resulting from the combustion of fossil fuels. Undoubtedly, the primary concern in fuel selection lies in the examination of emissions. Hence, the present study aims to examine the performance and environmental life cycle assessment methodologies of a dual fuel diesel engine. Furthermore, a fuel blend is made by combining biodiesel sourced from sunflower oil with varying concentrations of bioethanol (3%, 5%, and 7%) and pure biogas, with a percentage ranging from 50% to 80%. This fuel blend is intended for use in the combustion process. In this study, a total of eight fuel samples were meticulously produced and subsequently examined, alongside diesel fuel which served as the control fuel. The entire life cycle evaluation encompasses several stages, starting with the manufacturing of inputs to the combustion of fuel samples. This includes the extraction of oil from sunflower seeds, the production of biodiesel and bioethanol, as well as the generation of natural gas produced from pure biogas. These processes are regarded as captivating and pioneering topics within the field. The provided samples underwent combustion within a dual fuel engine. The findings indicate that the B5 fuel sample, when combined with a 3% bioethanol additive, demonstrates superior engine performance and reduced exhaust emissions. Furthermore, enhanced conditions were achieved in terms of engine performance and exhaust emissions when operating at the lowest rate of natural gas fractionation, which was 50%. The findings of a thorough life cycle evaluation, which examines the entire process from farm to combustion, indicate that the blend B5E7, consisting of 50% natural gas portion at maximum engine load, demonstrates both environmental friendliness and appropriate performance characteristics.