Thermodynamic Analysis of Synthetic Fuels in Compression Ignition Engines: Energy and Exergy Perspectives

Synthetic fuels, often considered carbon-neutral, offer a promising alternative to conventional fossil fuels by reducing environmental impacts. The production involves carbon capture and integration with other chemical components, aiming to mitigate emissions that typically contribute to air pollution, oil spills, and acid rain caused by sulphur in fossil fuels. This study investigates the energy and exergy performance of synthetic fuel blends in a compression ignition engine, comparing them with standard diesel fuel. Experimental tests were conducted at varying engine speeds to evaluate brake power, exhaust energy, fuel energy, exergy rates, heat loss, and exergy destruction. The results demonstrate that synthetic diesel and synthetic petrol exhibit energy and exergy distributions comparable to or superior to those of conventional diesel. These findings suggest that synthetic fuels can serve as environmentally friendly substitutes, offering viable alternatives for modern transportation energy systems.