Characterization of sweet lime peel oil as a fuel for direct injection diesel engine

Abstract

Presently fossil fuel depletion and stringent emission norms are two major challenges faced by automobile sector. Hence there is an urgent need of alternative fuel source which can mitigate these challenges. Moreover exponential increase of vehicles resulted in enhanced environmental pollution and associated health hazards. Emissions such as hydrocarbons (HC), Carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM), Oxides of Nitrogen, Smoke and Carbon dioxide has deteriorated the quality of air. Biofuels sourced from seeds, fruit peelings, seed shells, leaves and stems had been researched upon towards replacing the conventional fuels in an environmentally benefit manner. Sweet lime oil (Citrus limetta) fruit commonly known as Mosambi in India is used in large quantity because of its pleasant taste. However Sweet lime peels are disposed as waste without any usage. These peels contains combustible oils which can be extracted and used as alternative fuel. The resultant oil is less viscous and watery in nature which enables to exhibit better spray pattern and good atomization. Combustion properties such as calorific value, cetane number, flash point and fire point are in par with diesel properties. newline