One way to lower NOx emissions in diesel engines is to add water to the fuel. Since water is not mixable with diesel fuel, it has to been emulsified by a surfactant. Explain how it works and why.

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Engineering

Gabriela Dougherty

17 December, 04:10

One way to lower NOx emissions in diesel engines is to add water to the fuel. Since water is not mixable with diesel fuel, it has to been emulsified by a surfactant. Explain how it works and why.

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London · Answer 1

After the emulsion is made, fuel droplet containing water droplets increase its temperature inside the engine, because of that, water droplets explode causing water rapid evaporation that break down fuel droplet, in consequence, smaller fuel droplets are generated. This makes the temperature of the flame during the combustion decrease, and that is why the reduction of NOx is accomplished by this method.