With a focus on ecology, economy and engine performance, diesel engines are explored in relation to current research and developments. The prevalent trends in this development are outlined with particular focus on the most frequently used alternative fuels in diesel engines; the properties of various type of biodiesel and the concurrent improvement of diesel engine characteristics using numeric optimization alongside current investigation and research work in the field.

Following of a short overview of engine control, aftertreatment and alternative fuels, Green Diesel Engine explores the effects of biodiesel usage on injection, fuel spray, combustion, and tribology characteristics, and engine performance. Additionally, optimization procedures of diesel engine characteristics are discussed using practical examples and each topic is corroborated and supported by current research and detailed illustrations.

This thorough discussion provides a solid foundation in the current research but also a starting point for fresh ideas for engineers involved in developing/adjusting diesel engines for usage of alternative fuels, researchers in renewable energy, as well as to engineers, advanced undergraduates, and postgraduates.

Autorentext

Professor Breda Kegl earned her M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees at the University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. She teaches and conducts research in the area of internal combustion engines. Her research focuses on diesel engines with emphasis to usage of alternative fuels, engine performance and emissions, and diesel engine optimization. She is Head of the Engine Research Laboratory at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Maribor. Professor Breda Kegl has received the Golden symbol of Joef Stefan and the Silver sign of the University of Maribor for outstanding achievements in knowledge transfer to practice and creative work in science. She was engaged in the EU project MOBILIS, in many industrial projects in Austria, Croatia, India, Poland, and Serbia. She conducted one year of her postdoctoral research at the Technical University of Braunschweig in Germany. For many years she was one of the mentors of the Formula Student team at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Maribor. She chaired two international conferences and several national workshops. She is a coauthor of around sixty original scientific papers.

Professor Marko Kegl earned his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees at the University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. He teaches and conducts research in the area of mechanics and computational engineering. His research focuses on optimization of mechanical systems with emphasis to optimization of time-dependent mechanical systems and sizing, shape, and topology optimization of statically loaded structures. He is Head of the Laboratory for Applied Mechanics at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Maribor. Professor Marko Kegl conducted one year of his postdoctoral research at the Technical University of Braunschweig in Germany as a fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. He is a coauthor of over thirty original scientific papers.

Professor Stanislav Pehan earned his M.Sc. and Ph.D.degrees at the University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. He started his career in the automotive company TAM, at first as an automotive designer and later as the Executive Director of the Development Department. Now he teaches and conducts research in the area of mechanical design and tribology. His research focuses on development and design procedures of vehicles, drives, and gears. Professor Stanislav Pehan has received the Silver Sign of the University of Maribor for outstanding achievements in knowledge transfer to practice and creative work in science. For many years he was one of the mentors of the Formula Student team at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Maribor. He is a coauthor of around twenty original scientific papers.

Inhalt
1.Diesel Engine Characteristics.- 2.Guidelines for Improving Diesel Engine Characteristics.- 3.Biodiesel as Diesel Engine Fuel.- 4.Effects of Biodiesel on Injection Process Characteristics.- 6.Effects of Biodiesel on Fuel Spray Characteristics.- 7.Engine Performance, Economy, Tribology and Ecology.- 8.Improvement of Diesel Engine Characteristics by Numeric Optimization.- 8.Concluding Remarks.