Comparative Analysis of Combustion Characteristics and Emission Formation in Marine Diesel Engines Using Biofuels: Chemical Mechanism Analysis and Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of combustion mechanisms and emission formation in marine diesel engines using biodiesel blends through experimental validation and computational fluid dynamics simulation using Matlab 2024a. Two marine engines were tested—YANMAR 6HAL2-DTN (200 kW, 1200 rpm) and Niigatta Engineering 6L34HX (2471 kW, 600 rpm)—with biodiesel ratios B0, B20, B50, and B100 at loads from 10% to 100%. The methodology combines detailed experimental measurements of exhaust emissions, fuel consumption, and engine performance with three-dimensional CFD simulations employing k-ε RNG turbulence model, Kelvin–Helmholtz–Rayleigh–Taylor droplet breakup model, and extended Zeldovich mechanism for NOx formation modeling. Key findings demonstrate that biodiesel’s oxygen content (10–12% by mass) increases maximum combustion temperature by 25 °C at 50% load, resulting in NOx emissions increase of 5–13% across all loads. Conversely, CO emissions decrease by 7–10% due to enhanced oxidation reactions. CFD analysis reveals that B100 exhibits 12% greater spray penetration depth, 20% larger Sauter Mean Diameter, and 20–25% slower evaporation rate compared to B0. The thermal Zeldovich mechanism dominates NOx formation (>90%), with prompt-NO and fuel-NO contributions increasing from 6.5% and 0.3% for B0 to 7.2% and 1.3% for B100, respectively, at 25% load. Optimal injection timing varies with biodiesel ratio: 13–15° BTDC for B0 reducing to 10–12° BTDC for B100. These quantitative insights enable evidence-based optimization of marine diesel engines for improved environmental performance while maintaining operational efficiency.