Performance, emission and combustion characteristics of a IDI engine running on waste plastic oil

An interesting alternative to fossil fuel for Diesel engines is the use of Diesel-like oil from plastic wastes: such a solution yields the double advantage of recovering the valuable energy content of wastes, as well as of mitigating the disposal problem of the very large amount of plastic wastes produced by both domestic and industrial activities. The present paper describes the experimental campaign carried out on a current production indirect injection, naturally aspirated diesel engine, running on standard Commercial Diesel Oil (CDO) and on a Waste Plastic Oil (WPO) derived from the pyrolysis of plastics. Tests have been carried out at both full and partial load, while in-cylinder pressure traces have been measured in order to analyze the combustion phase. The results of the experimental campaign showed a slight reduction of engine performance for the WPO, basically due to a lower volumetric fuel rating, but better brake specific fuel consumption and brake fuel conversion efficiency (differences up to 8%). In-cylinder pressure traces, measured at the same load, revealed some difference in the first part of the combustion process, in particular at high speeds, where for WPO heat release is smoother. Engine soot emissions are always lower running on WPO, with difference up to 50% at full load.