Combined influence of injection timing and EGR on combustion, performance and emissions of DI diesel engine fueled with neat waste plastic oil

[Display omitted] •Waste plastic oil was extracted from mixed waste plastic by catalytic pyrolysis.•A DI diesel engine was fueled with neat WPO.•Modifications in injection timing and EGR were attempted with WPO engine.•Advanced injection timing and low EGR rates were found beneficial.•Simultaneous reduction of NOx and smoke could be obtained. Disposal of waste plastic accumulated in landfills is critical from the environmental perspective. The energy embodied in waste plastic could be recovered by catalytic pyrolysis as waste plastic oil (WPO) and could be recycled as a fuel for diesel engines. This method presents a sustainable solution for waste plastic management as the gap between global plastic production and waste plastic generation keeps widening. The present study investigates the combined influence of EGR and injection timing on the combustion, performance and emission characteristics of a DI diesel engine fueled with neat WPO. Experiments were conducted at three injection timings (21°, 23° and 25°CA bTDC) and EGR rates (10, 20 and 30%) at the engine’s rated power output. When compared to diesel, the combustion event occurred closer to the TDC when the injection timing is delayed from 25°CA bTDC to 21°CA bTDC. The peak in-cylinder pressures and HRRs dropped gradually as the injection timing was delayed from 25°CA bTDC to 21°CA bTDC at all EGR rates. The engine delivered diesel-like fuel consumption with 5.1% higher brake thermal efficiency. NOx decreased up to 52.4% under 30% EGR when WPO was injected lately 21°CA bTDC. Smoke density remained lower by 46% and 9.5% for 10% and 20% EGR rates respectively for WPO only at early injection timing of 25°CA bTDC. HC and CO emissions stayed lower at early injection timing of 25°CA bTDC under 10% EGR. WPO injected at the advanced injection timing of 25°CA bTDC and low EGR rate of 10% was found to simultaneously reduce smoke and NOx by 46% and 38% respectively.