Experimental investigation on the performance, combustion and emission characteristics of DI diesel engine powered by biofuels

Abstract

The demand for the energy has increased drastically as a result of the rapid growth in industrialisation, urbanisation and higher standard of living. The present fossil fuel crisis associated with increase in vehicle population is posing a challenge all over the world. The augmentation of the use of automobiles manifold every year and the tail pipe emissions are also increasing abnormally leading to air pollution and human health degradation. Scientists and researchers have to focus their attention on finding an ecofriendly, energy efficient fuel to replace fossil fuel, particularly diesel in transport sectors. The main objective of the present work is to use alternative fuels which are renewable in nature and performing better than Diesel Fuel (DF). Our context is to utilize biofuels namely eucalyptus oil and turpentine oil as a replacement to diesel fuel. In first phase, the work was carried out to analyse the performance, combustion and emission characteristics of direct injection diesel engine powered by blends of eucalyptus oil with diesel fuel and standard DF operated with standard Compression Ratio (CR 17.5) and various compression ratios (CR15, CR16, CR17 and CR18). For this purpose, five different blends containing 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 % of eucalyptus oil with diesel fuel were prepared in volume basis and tested in engine run with standard compression ratio (CR 17.5). Results indicated that the Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE) is increased about 6.2% for 60:40 Diesel Fuel / Eucalyptus Oil Fuel (DF/EOF) blend as compared to DF. Further the results showed that 60:40 DF/EOF blend has 16.7%, 25 % and 15.15% reduction of smoke, Carbonmonoxide (CO) and Unburnt Hydrocarbon (UBHC) emission as compared to standard DF at full load condition respectively. Oxides of Nitrogen (NOX) emission is slightly reduced for this blend as compared to DF. The heat release rate and cylinder pressures are increased positively.