(Bio-)Methyl ethers as alternative fuels in bivalent Diesel combustion

In the framework of the “New Vehicle and System Technologies” technical programme funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy, methyl-ether based fuels (DME/OME1) were investigated in the “XME Diesel” project in order to study their potential of being sustainable fuel replacements for diesel engine applications in passenger cars and commercial vehicles. In studies, which covered research activities from fundamental spray investigations over single- and multi-cylinder testing up to vehicle demonstrators, the new fuels were studied with regard to emission formation, efficiency and compatibility to conventional diesel engine technology. Here, promising findings regarding emission reduction (soot-free combustion and reduction of nitrogen oxides) and increased efficiency could be obtained. For the first time, a heavy-duty OME1 based full engine was developed in which the emission-reducing potential of methyl ethers could be demonstrated.