Evaluation on effects of using low biodiesel blends in a EURO 5 passenger vehicle equipped with a common-rail diesel engine

The effects of the use of low biodiesel blends in performance, fuel consumption and NOx emissions was investigated during tests carried out with a Renault Megane 1.5dCi equipped with recent injection and exhaust emission control technologies. To accomplish this goal, several tests were performed using the European homologation cycle concerning CO2 emissions of vehicles, known as the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). This was executed using a chassis dynamometer, a fuel weighting equipment, an exhaust emissions analyzer and the software developed to acquire data and control the execution of the cycle. Besides the accomplishment of the NEDC cycle tests with three diverse fuel blends, performance tests were also realized, enabling to get the full load engine response considering the use of different fuels.