Experimental investigation on performance emission and combustion characteristics of a LHR diesel engine using waste plastic oil

Abstract

With increasing need of fossil fuels for utilization in vehicles for agricultural purposes and in general transportation, along with the depletion and increase in price of fuels day by day, there is a need to investigate a replacement for fossil fuels through adopting source by means of alternate fuels in Internal Combustion (IC) engines. The alternate fuels to be identified must adhere to the present emission norms and should be renewable and environmental friendly without affecting the eco-system. Alternate fuels were generally categorized into solid, liquid and gaseous fuels. Solid fuels were not considered in IC engines, due to storage and handling issues. Increased engine performance, smooth running, higher engine life and low emission were characterized by liquid fuels since they are clean burning fuels. Modification of internal combustion engines presently using diesel as fuel has to be done for accommodating these liquid fuels. Reduction in depending on fossil fuels is possible with world countries starting utilizing alternate sources of liquid fuels which were available in their country. In recent times, many works have been recorded by researches working on IC engines with the objective of improving its performance and to lower the impact of engine emissions by altering engine operating parameters viz., change of mass flow rate of fuel, altering injection timing and valve timing etc. Presently researchers are working on to convert the waste plastic, which is a threat to eco-system in to fuel so that, it can be used as alternate fuel in IC engines. Discarded plastic after usage poses a threat to the environment and human health and a few of the waste plastic winds up in both landfills or as accumulated garbage in the world s oceans. Recent research focuses on utilizing Waste Plastic Oil (WPO) as fuel in many parts of the globe in Compression Ignition (CI) engines by pyrolysis process. newline