Alternative fuels for the decarbonisation of transport

This research line is divided into two activities: the experimental definition of the effects of using biofuels in diesel engines and the evaluation, using Well-to-Wheels/Wake approaches, of the replacement of conventional fuels with alternative fuels in road transport and the marine sector. In the first case, extensive test campaigns are conducted to compare diesel-methyl ester blends from used cooking oils, using a test bench on an automotive engine. The tests involve blends with a high biodiesel content and pure biodiesel under part-load conditions, to evaluate the effects on combustion in terms of stability, durability, noise, etc., on engine performance, and on NOX and soot emissions. Furthermore, integrated control strategies for the EGR system, injection pressure, and turbocharger are tested to improve efficiency and emissions when fueled with diesel-biodiesel blends or pure biodiesel. This is achieved by modifying the usual trade-off between the various parameters by managing the various subsystems and exploiting the characteristics of biodiesel. For the second activity, appropriate energy and emission factors are defined for the Well-to-Tank (production and distribution) and Tank-to-Wheels/Wake (end-use) phases. This is done to better compare the different options selected (diesel, MDO/MGO, HFO, CNG/LNG, methanol, ammonia, hydrogen, WCOME, HVO, electricity), taking into account the different possible routes, based on fossil or renewable raw materials and energy. The factors are then applied to case studies involving the maritime or road transport sectors, with a particular focus on the impact on port areas. The polluting species considered are greenhouse gases such as CO2, CH4 and N2O, and chemical compounds such as NOX, PM and SOX.

Laboratori coinvolti

  • Internal Combustion Engines and Propulsion Systems Laboratory
     

Pubblicazioni rappresentative

  • Zamboni G., Capobianco M. Integrated control strategies of EGR system and fuel injection pressure to reduce emissions and fuel consumption in a DI engine fueled with diesel-WCOME blends and neat biodiesel. Paper accepted for the publication in Energies, Special Issue on Performance and Emissions of Advanced Fuels in Combustion Engines, 2025.
  • Zamboni G., Scamardella F., Gualeni P., Canepa E. Comparative analysis among different alternative fuels for ship propulsion in a well-to-wake perspective. Heliyon, Volume 10, Issue 4, Article number e26016, 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26016.
  • Scamardella F., Zamboni G., Canepa E., Gualeni P., Macocco A. Ammonia as an Alternative Fuel for Large Passenger Ships: Benefits and Challenges. Progress in Marine Science and Technology, Volume 6, Pages 138 - 14529 August 2022 - 20th International Conference on Ship and Maritime Research, NAV 2022 June 2022 Code 182460.
  • Zamboni G., Capobianco M. Definition of the optimal content of used cooking oil methyl ester in blends fuelling a turbocharged diesel engine. Biomass and Bioenergy, 150, 106098, 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2021.106098
  • Zamboni G., Capobianco M. Experimental Analysis of the Influence of Diesel-Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester Blends on Efficiency, Emissions and Combustion Process in a Diesel Engine. EUBCE 2020, 28th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 2020.


     
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