Biofuels, vehicle emissions, and urban air quality

Wallington, TJ; Anderson, JE; Kurtz, EM; Tennison, PJ

HERO ID

3359684

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2016

Language

English

PMID

27112132

HERO ID 3359684
In Press No
Year 2016
Title Biofuels, vehicle emissions, and urban air quality
Authors Wallington, TJ; Anderson, JE; Kurtz, EM; Tennison, PJ
Journal Faraday Discussions
Volume 189
Page Numbers 121-136
Abstract Increased biofuel content in automotive fuels impacts vehicle tailpipe emissions via two mechanisms: fuel chemistry and engine calibration. Fuel chemistry effects are generally well recognized, while engine calibration effects are not. It is important that investigations of the impact of biofuels on vehicle emissions consider the impact of engine calibration effects and are conducted using vehicles designed to operate using such fuels. We report the results of emission measurements from a Ford F-350 fueled with either fossil diesel or a biodiesel surrogate (butyl nonanoate) and demonstrate the critical influence of engine calibration on NOx emissions. Using the production calibration the emissions of NOx were higher with the biodiesel fuel. Using an adjusted calibration (maintaining equivalent exhaust oxygen concentration to that of the fossil diesel at the same conditions by adjusting injected fuel quantities) the emissions of NOx were unchanged, or lower, with biodiesel fuel. For ethanol, a review of the literature data addressing the impact of ethanol blend levels (E0-E85) on emissions from gasoline light-duty vehicles in the U.S. is presented. The available data suggest that emissions of NOx, non-methane hydrocarbons, particulate matter (PM), and mobile source air toxics (compounds known, or suspected, to cause serious health impacts) from modern gasoline and diesel vehicles are not adversely affected by increased biofuel content over the range for which the vehicles are designed to operate. Future increases in biofuel content when accomplished in concert with changes in engine design and calibration for new vehicles should not result in problematic increases in emissions impacting urban air quality and may in fact facilitate future required emissions reductions. A systems perspective (fuel and vehicle) is needed to fully understand, and optimize, the benefits of biofuels when blended into gasoline and diesel.
Doi 10.1039/c5fd00205b
Pmid 27112132
Wosid WOS:000380099700007
Url https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84978498201&doi=10.1039%2fc5fd00205b&partnerID=40&md5=4d37ac52146117daf2c1ecf57676870d
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English