Assessment of performance, combustion and emissions characteristics of methanol-diesel dual-fuel compression ignition engine: A review

The energy security concern and rapidly diminishing fossil fuel resources demand the development of renewable and economically attractive fuel for reciprocating engines. Methanol is a promising renewable alternative fuel. Numerous studies have been carried out to explore the various aspects of the utilization of methanol in compression ignition (CI) engine. This review paper presents a detailed analysis of the effect of methanol on performance, combustion, and emission (NOx, CO, HC, and soot) characteristics of conventional CI-engine along with dual-fuel combustion mode. This study focuses on methanol utilization in dual-fuel mode, which is an advanced engine combustion mode. First, methanol production and solubility issues of methanol in diesel are briefly discussed. This study discusses the soot and nano-particle emission from the methanol fueled CI-engine, which is one of the main concerns in the current emission legislation. It was found that the utilization of methanol in CI-engine has the potential to improve the performance and simultaneously with a significant reduction in NOx, CO, soot, and nano-particle emissions in comparison to neat diesel operation. However, unburnt HC emission reduces for methanol-diesel blended fuel operation whereas HC emissions are higher for methanol-diesel dual-fuel operation. •Detailed review of the methanol utilization in dual-fuel mode compression ignition engine.•Methanol has the potential to improve the performance and reduce the NOx, CO, soot, and particle emissions.•Fuel premixing range in dual-fuel operation is restricted by higher pressure rise rate, partial burn, misfire and knocking.•Increase in methanol fuel premixing results in higher cyclic combustion variations.•CMD of the particles decrease with an increase in the methanol-diesel premixing ratio in dual-fuel mode.