Experimental investigations on the ceramic coating in di diesel with alcohol as a fuel

Abstract

ABSTARCT newlineThe world-wide search for the alternative fuels has simulated in the recent years due to the petroleum crisis and also emphasized the need for using petroleum fuels with utmost economy. This recognizes the alcohols as a preferable replacement because these are derived from renewable indigenous sources. As our India is an agricultural country, the production of sugar cane is more which further used for the production of alcohols. However, with its low cetane number and high latent heat of vaporization, the burning of alcohols in diesel engines is difficult. But they can be ignited in the high temperature combustion chambers. This tendency of alcohols is being used for the development of the insulated engine (IE) which reduces the ignition delay and aids combustion. In this, the combustion chamber surfaces are thermally insulated for improving fuel efficiency and to reduce the emissions. newlineWith the low viscosity of alcohols more fuel will be injected in to combustion chamber at the available fuel injection pressure which leads to the problem of injection and equipment wear and tear. So, for evaluating the performance parameters and to find the fuel injection pressure at which the normal diesel engine has better performance characteristics, a comprehensive simulation model for the diesel engine is developed. This fuel injection pressure is further used for the experimental investigations. newlineIn the present work the following modifications are done to the engine for improving the performance. newline(i) The piston of the test engine is insulated by incorporating an air-gap between the crown and the piston body. newline(ii) The cylinder liner is provided with an air-gap all around its outer surface with the help of a cylindrical sleeve. newline(iii) The cylinder head and the valve surfaces are insulated by coating them with a layer of partially stabilized zirconium (PSZ). newlineDifferent levels of insulation are tried with the base aluminum piston. Alcohol (Ethanol) is used as fuel in all these configurations to find out the performance, em