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Energies
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New Horizons in Biofuel Production, Technologies, and Emissions
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New Horizons in Biofuel Production, Technologies, and Emissions

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A4: Bio-Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2021) | Viewed by 8125

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Carmen Mata

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. School of Mining and Industrial Engineering, Department of Applied Mechanics and Project Engineering, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Almadén, Spain
2.. Escuela de Ingeniería Minera e Industrial de Almadén, Campus de Excelencia Internacional en Energía y Medioambiente, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Plaza Meca s/n, 13400 Almadén, Spain
Interests: biofuels; pollution; emissions; diesel fuel; on-road measurement; injection; engine durability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, concern has been growing around the world regarding the depletion of fossil fuels and the climatic consequences that the use of these fuels is having on the planet. This concern has led to an increase in research on the development of new fuels that are more respectful of the environment and that make it possible to supply the increased global demand for fuel in a more sustainable way. Improving production technologies for these new fuels can contribute to improving the energy independence of some countries, although it can also, in some cases, be hampered by the great disparity of regulatory frameworks in the world. Research in the field of biofuels, both from a productive point of view and from the point of view of polluting emissions, is vital to understand how to make a transition from fossil fuels to others that are more respectful of the planet.

Dr. Maria Del Carmen Mata
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • investment in biofuels productions
  • emissions from new biofuels
  • new crops for obtaining biofuels
  • technologies applied to decrease the price of biofuel production
  • effects of new biofuels on vehicle operation
  • economic implications of the use of new biofuels.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 8865 KiB  
Article
Effect of the In-Cylinder Back Pressure on the Injection Process and Fuel Flow Characteristics in a Common-Rail Diesel Injector Using GTL Fuel
by Luka Lešnik, Breda Kegl, Eloísa Torres-Jiménez, Fernando Cruz-Peragón, Carmen Mata and Ignacijo Biluš
Energies 2021, 14(2), 452; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14020452 - 15 Jan 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3246
Abstract
The presented paper aims to study the influence of mineral diesel fuel and synthetic Gas-To-Liquid fuel (GTL) on the injection process, fuel flow conditions, and cavitation formation in a modern common-rail injector. First, the influence on injection characteristics was studied experimentally using an [...] Read more.
The presented paper aims to study the influence of mineral diesel fuel and synthetic Gas-To-Liquid fuel (GTL) on the injection process, fuel flow conditions, and cavitation formation in a modern common-rail injector. First, the influence on injection characteristics was studied experimentally using an injection system test bench, and numerically using the one-dimensional computational program. Afterward, the influence of fuel properties on internal fuel flow was studied numerically using a computational program. The flow inside the injector was considered as multiphase flow and was calculated through unsteady Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations using a Eulerian–Eulerian two-fluid approach. Finally, the influence of in-cylinder back pressure on the internal nozzle flow was studied at three distinctive back pressures. The obtained numerical results for injection characteristics show good agreement with the experimental ones. The results of 3D simulations indicate that differences in fuel properties influence internal fuel flow and cavitation inception. The location of cavitation formation is the same for both fuels. The cavitation formation is triggered regardless of fuel properties. The size of the cavitation area is influenced by fuel properties and also from in-cylinder back pressure. Higher values of back pressure induce smaller areas of cavitation and vice versa. Comparing the conditions at injection hole exit, diesel fuel proved slightly higher average mass flow rate and velocities, which can be attributed to differences in fluid densities and viscosities. Overall, the obtained results indicate that when considering the injection process and internal nozzle flow, GTL fuel can be used in common-rail injection systems with solenoid injectors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Horizons in Biofuel Production, Technologies, and Emissions)
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17 pages, 3384 KiB  
Article
Ultrasonic Delignification and Microstructural Characterization of Switchgrass
by Onu Onu Olughu, Lope G. Tabil and Tim Dumonceaux
Energies 2021, 14(2), 263; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14020263 - 06 Jan 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1917
Abstract
This present study was undertaken to investigate the ultrasonic delignification of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and the effects of ultrasonic irradiation on the molecular and microstructure of switchgrass. We investigated this question using response surface methodology (RSM) featuring a four-factor, three-level Box–Behnken [...] Read more.
This present study was undertaken to investigate the ultrasonic delignification of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and the effects of ultrasonic irradiation on the molecular and microstructure of switchgrass. We investigated this question using response surface methodology (RSM) featuring a four-factor, three-level Box–Behnken experimental design with acoustic power (120, 180, and 240 W), solid–solvent ratio (1/25, 1/20, and 1/15 g/mL), hammer mill screen size (1.6, 3.2, and 6.4 mm), and sonication time (10, 30, and 50 min) as factors, while delignification (%) was the response variable. The native and treated switchgrass samples were further characterized through crystallinity measurements and electron microscopy. The results of lignin analysis show that the percent delignification ranged between 1.86% and 20.11%. The multivariate quadratic regression model developed was statistically significant at p < 0.05. SEM and TEM micrographs of the treated switchgrass grinds resulted in cell wall disruption at the micro- and nano-scales. XRD analysis revealed a reduction in the mean crystallite size and crystallinity index from 15.39 to 13.13 Å and 48.86% to 47.49%, respectively, while no significant change occurred in the d-spacings. The results of this investigation show that ultrasonic irradiation induces chemical and structural changes in switchgrass, which could enhance its use for biofuel and bioproducts applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Horizons in Biofuel Production, Technologies, and Emissions)
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14 pages, 4505 KiB  
Article
Impact of Alternative Paraffinic Fuels on the Durability of a Modern Common Rail Injection System
by Carmen Mata, Jakub Piaszyk, José Antonio Soriano, José Martín Herreros, Athanasios Tsolakis and Karl Dearn
Energies 2020, 13(16), 4166; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en13164166 - 12 Aug 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2313
Abstract
Common rail (CR) diesel fuel injection systems are very sensitive to variations in fuel properties, thus the impact of alternative fuels on the durability of the injection system should be investigated when considering the use of alternative fuels. This work studies a high-pressure [...] Read more.
Common rail (CR) diesel fuel injection systems are very sensitive to variations in fuel properties, thus the impact of alternative fuels on the durability of the injection system should be investigated when considering the use of alternative fuels. This work studies a high-pressure CR (HPCR) diesel fuel injection system operating for 400 h in an injection test bench, using a fuel blend composed of an alternative paraffinic fuel and conventional diesel (50PF50D). The alternative fuel does not have aromatic components and has lower density than conventional diesel fuel. The injection system durability study was carried out under typical injection pressure and fuel temperature for the fuel pump, the common rail and the injector. The results show that the HPCR fuel injection system and its components (e.g., piston, spring, cylinder, driveshaft and cam) have no indication of damage, wear or change in surface roughness. The absence of internal wear to the components of the injection system is supported by the approximately constant total flow rate that reaches the injector during the whole the 400 h of the experiment. However, the size of the injector nozzle holes was decreased (approximately 12%), being consistent with the increase in the return fuel flow of the injector and rail (approximately 13%) after the completion of the study. Overall, the injection system maintained its operability during the whole duration of the durability study, which encourages the use of paraffinic fuels as an alternative to conventional diesel fuel. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Horizons in Biofuel Production, Technologies, and Emissions)
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