Effects of sulphur and vanadium contents in diesel fuel on engine performance and emissions: Principal component analysis (PCA)

Marine diesel engines using Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) produce emissions of toxic compounds that have a negative impact on the environment and human health. A very limited number of on- board ship emission measurement studies have been undertaken due their logistical and regulatory complexity. An alternative way to investigate some issues relating to HFO fuels is by the use of a proxy fuel for HFO in a laboratory based diesel engine. Sulphur (S) and vanadium (V) are two elements of particular interest in HFO because of their relationship to particle formation and corrosive salt properties, respectively. An experimental engine campaign has been conducted on a heavy duty high speed six-cylinder turbocharged and after-cooled diesel engine with a common rail injection system. Principal Component Analysis has been applied in this study to investigate the relationships between: (i) measured engine performance and emissions variables and (ii) fuel S and V content and engine load.