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Performance and Emissions of Advanced Fuels in Combustion Engines
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Performance and Emissions of Advanced Fuels in Combustion Engines

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "I2: Energy and Combustion Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 19 November 2025 | Viewed by 949

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Changzhao Jiang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK
Interests: hydrogen internal combustion engines; alternative fuels research for vehicle propulsion and power generation; advanced laser diagnostic technologies used in fluid dynamics; electrification of vehicle
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Dai Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Power and Energy Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Nangang District, Harbin, China
Interests: diesel engine; marine engine; combustion and emissions; spray; testing; modelling
Dr. Xiao Ma

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Automotive Engineering Department, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: laser diagnostics; engine; fuel; combustion; multi-phase flow
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The impact of climate change is growing more severe around the globe and there is clear evidence that the 1.5 ⁰C temperature cap established in the Paris Agreement is not going to be achieved, given the current actions taken. It is critical for every country around the world to reduce their CO2 emissions in every sector possible.

At the moment, reciprocating internal combustion engines (ICEs) still dominate land and marine transport (99.8%). Despite all the advancements engineers have made in battery and fuel cell technologies, human society still heavily relies on ICEs due to their availability, cost, reliability, safety, and energy density, as well as the availability of their infrastructure.

The use of decarbonized fuels or carbon-neutral fuels in internal combustion will help the world cope with these problems. With very small changes, these ICEs could provide a similar power and flexibility to that of conventional ICEs by burning hydrogen, ammonia, ethanol, or methanol. This shift from crude oil-powered ICEs to green, alternative-fuel-powered ICEs requires minimum effort and cost but can still achieve the same (if not a better) CO2 reduction target. Due to the lower cost, investment, and infrastructure requirements of this transition, shifting to these advanced-fuel-powered ICEs would be a significant help in allowing us to achieve our climate change targets.

This Special Issue aims to disseminate novel research that has been carried out in the areas of the design, testing, modelling, control, and application of different fuels used in combustion engines.

Topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • The performance and emissions of engines powered by decarbonized fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia.
  • The performance and emissions of engines powered by biofuels such as ethanol and methanol.
  • The modelling and testing of the spray, flow, and combustion of advanced fuels.
  • Low-carbon-fuel-powered combustion engines used in marine applications.
  • The use of low-carbon fuels in hybrid applications.
  • The using of advanced fuels in Wankel engines and two-stroke engines.

The use of advanced fuels in jet engines.

Dr. Changzhao Jiang
Dr. Dai Liu
Dr. Xiao Ma
Guest Editors

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

  • low-carbon technologies
  • combustion engines
  • alternative fuels
  • hydrogen
  • ammonia
  • ethanol
  • methanol
  • modelling
  • testing

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 1091 KiB  
Article
Experimental Validation and Optimization of a Hydrogen–Gasoline Dual-Fuel Combustion Model in a Spark Ignition Engine with a Moderate Hydrogen Ratio
by Attila Kiss, Bálint Szabó, Krisztián Kun, Barna Hanula and Zoltán Weltsch
Energies 2025, 18(13), 3501; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18133501 - 2 Jul 2025
Viewed by 211
Abstract
Hydrogen–gasoline dual-fuel spark ignition (SI) engines represent a promising transitional solution toward cleaner combustion and reduced carbon emissions. In a previous study, a predictive engine model was developed to simulate the performance and combustion characteristics of such systems; however, its accuracy was constrained [...] Read more.
Hydrogen–gasoline dual-fuel spark ignition (SI) engines represent a promising transitional solution toward cleaner combustion and reduced carbon emissions. In a previous study, a predictive engine model was developed to simulate the performance and combustion characteristics of such systems; however, its accuracy was constrained by the use of estimated combustion parameters. This study presents an experimental validation based on high-resolution in-cylinder pressure measurements performed on a naturally aspirated SI engine operating with a 20% hydrogen energy share. The objectives are twofold: (1) to refine the combustion model using empirically derived combustion metrics, and (2) to evaluate the feasibility of moderate hydrogen enrichment in a stock engine configuration. To facilitate a more accurate understanding of how key combustion parameters evolve under different operating conditions, Vibe function was fitted to the ensemble-averaged heat release rate curves computed from 100 consecutive engine cycles at each static full-load operating point. This approach enabled the extraction of stable and representative metrics, including the mass fraction burned at 50% (MFB50) and combustion duration, which were then used to recalibrate the predictive combustion model. In addition, cycle-to-cycle variation and combustion duration were also investigated in the dual-fuel mode. The combustion duration exhibited a consistent and substantial reduction across all of the examined operating points when compared to pure gasoline operation. Furthermore, the cycle-to-cycle variation difference remained statistically insignificant, indicating that the introduction of 20% hydrogen did not adversely affect combustion stability. In addition to improving model accuracy, this work investigates the occurrence of abnormal combustion phenomena—including backfiring, auto-ignition, and knock—under enriched conditions. The results confirm that 20% hydrogen blends can be safely utilized in standard engine architectures, yielding faster combustion and reduced burn durations. The validated model offers a reliable foundation for further dual-fuel optimization and supports the broader integration of hydrogen into conventional internal combustion platforms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance and Emissions of Advanced Fuels in Combustion Engines)
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28 pages, 3106 KiB  
Article
Integrated Control Strategies of EGR System and Fuel Injection Pressure to Reduce Emissions and Fuel Consumption in a DI Engine Fueled with Diesel-WCOME Blends and Neat Biodiesel
by Giorgio Zamboni and Massimo Capobianco
Energies 2025, 18(11), 2791; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18112791 - 27 May 2025
Viewed by 318
Abstract
A wide experimental campaign was developed on an automotive turbocharged diesel engine, using two blends between diesel oil and waste cooking oil methyl esters (WCOME) and neat biodiesel. A conventional B7 diesel oil was considered as a reference fuel. The two blends, respectively, [...] Read more.
A wide experimental campaign was developed on an automotive turbocharged diesel engine, using two blends between diesel oil and waste cooking oil methyl esters (WCOME) and neat biodiesel. A conventional B7 diesel oil was considered as a reference fuel. The two blends, respectively, included 40 and 70% of WCOME, on a volumetric basis. The influence of biodiesel was analyzed by testing the engine in two part-load operating conditions, applying proper control strategies to the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) circuit and rail pressure, to assess the interactions between the engine management and the tested fuels. The variable nozzle turbine (VNT) was controlled to obtain a constant level of intake pressure in the two experimental points. Referring to biodiesel effects at constant operating mode, higher WCOME content generally resulted in better efficiency and soot emission, while NOX emission was negatively affected. EGR activation allowed for limited NO formation but with penalties in soot emission. Furthermore, interactions between the EGR circuit and turbocharger operations and control led to higher fuel consumption and lower efficiency. Finally, the increase in rail pressure corresponded to better soot emission and penalties in NOX emission. Combining all these effects, the selection of EGR rate and rail pressure values higher than the standard levels resulted in better efficiency, NOX, and soot emissions when comparing blends and neat biodiesel to conventional B7, granting advantages not only with regard to greenhouse gas emissions. Combustion parameters were also assessed, showing that combustion stability and combustion noise were not negatively affected by biodiesel use. Combustion duration was reduced when using WCOME and its blend, even if the center of combustion was slightly shifted along the expansion stroke. The main contribution of this investigation to the scientific and technical knowledge on biodiesel application to internal combustion engines is related to the development of tests on diesel–biodiesel blends with high WCOME content or neat WCOME, identifying their effects on NOX emissions, the definition of integrated strategies of HP EGR system, fuel rail pressure, and VNT for the simultaneous reduction in NOX and soot emissions, and the detailed assessment of the influence of biodiesel on a wide range of combustion parameters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance and Emissions of Advanced Fuels in Combustion Engines)
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