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DOI: 10.15507/2658-4123.036.202602.392-415

UDK 621.436.1

Reduction of Smoke and Soot Formation in a Diesel Engine by Replacing Completely Petroleum Fuel with Methanol and Methyl Ester of Rapeseed Oil

Vitaly A. Likhanov
Dr.Sci. (Eng), Professor, Head of the Department of Heat Engines, automobiles and Tractors, Vyatka State Agrotecnological University (133 Oktyabrsky Ave., Kirov 610017, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3033-7176, Researcher ID: AGN-7347-2022, Scopus ID: 57197821797, SPIN-code: 9474-7629, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Oleg P. Lopatin
Dr.Sci. (Eng), Associate Professor, Professor of the Department of Heat Engines, automobiles and Tractors, Vyatka State Agrotecnological University (133 Oktyabrsky Ave., Kirov 610017, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0806-6878, Researcher ID: AAD-8374-2019, Scopus ID: 57197821205, SPIN-code: 8716-0189, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract
Introduction. The characteristics of diesel fuel, including its chemical composition and physico-chemical properties, directly correlate with the engine operation environmental aspects. They determine the soot formation intensity in combusting and soot emissions into the atmosphere with exhaust gases. When an engine operates using alternative biofuels in different load and speed modes, the fuel combustion conditions in the diesel cylinder vary depending on the injection and spraying parameters and the droplet size of the biofuel used that leads to the modification of the soot emission characteristics. The relevance of studying the soot formation in diesel biofuel-powered engines is caused by its direct effect on combustion efficiency, the level of toxic emissions, and on the economic and environmental engine characteristics.
Aim of the Study. The study is aimed at investigating the effect of methanol and methyl ester of rapeseed oil on forming soot and reducing smoke content of diesel engine exhaust gases.
Materials and Methods. The adequacy and topicality of experimental data processing methods is confirmed by experimental studies and analytical dependencies. Experimental studies were conducted according to the GOST 18509-88 methodology, the samples to determine the smoke content of exhaust gases were taken according to the GOST 24028-2013, GOST 17.2.2.02-98, GOST R 41.24-2003 methods. The parameters of the combustion process were determined according to the methods of the Central Scientific Research Diesel Institute, the calculated characteristics of soot were determined according to the Central Research Diesel Institute, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University methods and the Vyatka State Agrotechnological University programs.
Results. There have been studied the morphology and microstructure of aggregate soot particles. There have been considered the physicochemical characteristics of the fuels used in a diesel engine. When operating in the main load and speed modes of a diesel engine running on methanol and methyl ether of rapeseed oil, there have been found exhaust smoke values, temperatures in the zones of soot formation and burnout, the number and diameter of soot particles, the mass content and concentration of soot. There have been also found their maximum values and has been determined the corresponding angle of crankshaft rotation. In the course of the study, the complete replacement of standard petroleum diesel fuel in diesel engines with methanol and methyl ester of rapeseed oil was successfully carried out.
Discussion and Conclusion. The study confirms the possibility to replace completely the standard fuel for the diesel engine with methanol and methyl ester of rapeseed oil that reduces significantly exhaust smoke. The calculated values of the soot concentration in the cylinder correspond to current theoretical models describing the processes occurring inside the cylinder, and are confirmed by the experimental data of the exhaust smoke measurements. Further research areas may include adapting the alternative fuel used and optimizing the fuel supply system of a diesel engine to achieve the lowest possible level of exhaust smoke.

Keywords: soot formation, soot particles, exhaust smoke, diesel engine, methanol, methyl ester of rapeseed oil

Conflict of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

For citation: Likhanov V.A., Lopatin O.P. Reduction of Smoke and Soot Formation in a Diesel Engine by Replacing Completely Petroleum Fuel with Methanol and Methyl Ester of Rapeseed Oil. Engineering Technologies and Systems. 2026;36(2):392–415. https://doi.org/10.15507/2658-4123.26362.392-415

Authors contribution:
V. A. Likhanov – oversight and leadership responsibility for the research activity planning and execution, including mentorship external to the core team; application of statistical, mathematical, computational, or other formal techniques to analyse or synthesize study data; preparation, creation and / or presentation of the published work by those from the original research group, specifically critical review, commentary or revision – including pre- or post-publication stages.
O. P. Lopatin – conducting a research and investigation process, specifically performing the experiments, or data/evidence collection; development or design of methodology; creation of models; preparation, creation and / or presentation of the published work, specifically visualization / data presentation.

All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 10.11.2025;
revised 25.12.2025;
accepted 20.01.2026

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