A review study on the using of diethyl ether in diesel engines: effects on smoke and PM emissions

This study was compiled from the results of various researches performed on using diethyl etheras a fuel or fuel additive in diesel engines. Three different techniques are used for the reductionof the harmful exhaust emissions of diesel engines. The first technique for the reduction ofharmful emissions is improved the combustion by modification of engine design and fuelinjection system, but this process is expensive and time consuming. The second technique is theusing various exhaust gas devices like catalytic converter and diesel particulate filter. However,the use of these devices affects negatively diesel engine performance. The final technique toreduce emissions and also improve diesel engine performance is the use of various alternativefuels or fuel additives. The major pollutants of diesel engines are oxide of nitrogen (NOx) andsmoke or particulate matter (PM). It is very difficult to reduce NOx and PM simultaneously inpractice. Most of the researchers declare that the best way to reduce is the use of variousalternative fuels i.e. natural gas, biogas, biodiesel or using the additives with alternative fuels orconventional diesel fuel. Therefore, it is very important that the results of various studies onalternative fuels or fuel additives are evaluated together to practice applications. Especially, thisstudy focus on the use of diethyl ether in diesel engines as fuel or fuel additive in various dieselengine fuels. This review study investigates the effects of diethyl ether addition on the smokeand PM emissions.