Energy release rates from hybrid fuels

ABSTRACT HEAT release patterns of hybrid fuels containing diesel fuel and soybean oil in a microemulsion with ethanol were compared to those of straight diesel fuel. A naturally-aspirated direct-injection diesel engine was used. The hybrid fuels were found to burn faster with higher levels of premixed burning and lower levels of diffusion flame burning than diesel fuel, resulting in higher brake thermal efficiencies, cylinder pressures and rates of pressure rise.