Butanol as a fuel for Diesel engines

Research Project, 2013 – 2016

Which is the best Diesel fuel when the proportion of renewable fuel must increase? The fuel must be easy to implement, the fuel must be possible to blend with fossil Diesel fuel, existing vehicles must be able to use the fuel, the fuel must provide energy security, low environmental impact and be economically viable. One possibility to increase the share of renewable Diesel is the use of butanol. Butanol can be blended into Diesel without emulsifiers, Butanol is better in terms of safety compared to ethanol and methanol. Butanol can be made from wood. The lower cetane number can be compensated for by mixing with HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil), in this way, 60-70% of the fuel can be renewable. An alternative to use HVO to increase cetane number is the use of an ignition improver. The project aims to increase the knowledge about renewable fuels, highly efficient combustion system and NOx and PM reduction. The results will be used by the automotive industry as a fuel.