LAUSR

The low solubility of ethanol in the diesel oil has motivated the study of ternary mixtures using butanol like co-solvent. Within this approach several mixtures were tested in the MBB OM355/6A engine, obtaining, in some cases, a performance equal to or greater than that of diesel oil. The volume proportions of butanol, ethanol and diesel for each fuel tested were, respectively: 3%, 7% and 90%; 3.5%, 8% and 88.5%; 5%, 7.5% and 87.5%; 4.5%, 8% and 87.5%; 5%, 10% and 85%. The results obtained in the dynamometric bench tests, the rheological parameters and the physicochemical properties of the mixtures are presented. The mixture with 3% of butanol, 7% of ethanol and 90% of diesel [MD10(3+7)BE] showed the best performance in the engine tests, with brake specific fuel consumption lower than diesel fuel, for all engine speed at full load, and with brake thermal efficiency higher than diesel fuel, for all engine speed at full load. [Received: December 16, 2017; Accepted: December 18, 2018]