Experimental investigations of comparative performance, emission and combustion characteristics of a cottonseed biodiesel-fueled four-stroke locomotive diesel engine

The methyl esters of vegetable oils known as biodiesel are becoming increasingly popular because of their low environmental impact and potential as a green alternative fuel for diesel engines. Methyl ester of rice-bran oil (RBOME) is prepared through the process of transesterification. In the present investigation, experiments have been carried out to examine the performance, emission, and combustion characteristics of a direct-injection transportation diesel engine running with diesel, 20% blend of rice-bran oil (RBO), and 20% blend of RBOME with mineral diesel. A four-stroke, four-cylinder, direct-injection transportation diesel engine (MDI 3000) was instrumented for the measurement of the engine performance, emissions, in-cylinder pressure-crank angle history, rate of pressure rise, and other important combustion parameters such as instantaneous heat release rate, cumulative heat release rate, mass fraction burned, etc. A careful analysis of the performance, emissions, combustion, and heat release parameters has been carried out. HC, CO, and smoke emissions for RBO and RBOME blends were lower than mineral diesel while NOx emissions were almost similar and brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) was slightly higher than mineral diesel. Combustion characteristics were quite similar for the three fuels.

Download Full-text

Combustion Characteristics of Rice Bran Oil Derived Biodiesel in a Transportation Diesel Engine

ASME 2006 Internal Combustion Engine Division Spring Technical Conference (ICES2006) ◽

10.1115/ices2006-1375 ◽

2006 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Shailendra Sinha ◽

Avinash Kumar Agarwal

Keyword(s):

Diesel Engine ◽

Heat Release ◽

Rice Bran ◽

Heat Release Rate ◽

Release Rate ◽

Rice Bran Oil ◽

Direct Injection ◽

Pressure Rise ◽

Combustion Characteristics ◽

Experimental Investigations

The methyl esters of vegetable oils, known as biodiesel are becoming increasingly popular because of their low environmental impact and potential as a green alternative fuel for diesel engines. They do not require significant modification in existing engine hardware. Methyl ester of rice bran oil (ROME) is prepared through the process of transesterification. Previous research has shown that ROME has comparable performance, lower bsfc in comparison to diesel. There was reduction in the emissions of CO, HC, and smoke but NOx emissions increased. In the present research, experimental investigations have been carried out to examine the combustion characteristics of a direct injection transportation diesel engine running with diesel, and 20% blend of ROME with diesel. A four-stroke, four-cylinder, direct-injection transportation diesel engine (MDI 3000) was fully instrumented for the measurement of combustion pressure, rate of pressure rise and other combustion parameters such as instantaneous heat release rate, cumulative heat release rate, mass fraction burned etc. Tests were performed at different loads ranging from no load to 100%, at constant engine speed. No engine hardware modification was carried out for the present study. A careful analysis of combustion and heat release parameters has been carried out, which gives precise information about the in-cylinder combustion of rice bran oil based biodiesel vis-a`-vis mineral diesel.

Download Full-text

Emission and Combustion Characteristics of Biodiesel (Jatropha Curcas) Blends in a Medium Duty IDI Transportation Engine

ASME 2007 Internal Combustion Engine Division Fall Technical Conference ◽

10.1115/icef2007-1684 ◽

2007 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Harish Kumar Gangwar ◽

Avinash Kumar Agarwal

Keyword(s):

Diesel Engine ◽

Heat Release ◽

Vegetable Oils ◽

Import Substitution ◽

Pressure Rise ◽

Careful Analysis ◽

Combustion Characteristics ◽

Experimental Investigations ◽

Cylinder Pressure ◽

Biodiesel Blends

Vegetable oils, due to their agricultural origin, are able to reduce net carbon-di-oxide emissions to the atmosphere along with import substitution of petroleum products. However, several operational and durability problems in using straight vegetable oils as CI engine fuels are reported in the literature, which are because of their higher viscosity and low volatility compared to mineral diesel. In the present research, experiment were designed to study the effect of lowering Jatropha oil’s viscosity by transesterification and thereby eliminating adverse effects on combustion characteristics of the engine. In the present experimental research, Jatropha methyl ester is produced by transesterification of jatropha oil using methanol in presence of basic catalyst (Sodium hydroxide). Experimental investigations have been carried out to examine the combustion characteristics of in an indirect injection (IDI) transportation diesel engine running with diesel, biodiesel and its blends with diesel. Engine tests were performed at different engine loads ranging from no load to rated (100%) load at fixed engine speed (2000 rpm). A careful analysis of cylinder pressure rise, instantaneous heat release and cumulative heat release was carried out. All test fuels exhibited similar combustion stages as diesel however biodiesel and its blends showed earlier start of combustion and lower heat release during premixed combustion phase at all engine load. Maximum cylinder pressure reduces as the fraction of biodiesel increases in the blend and at higher engine loads, the crank angle position of peak cylinder pressure for biodiesel blends shifted away from top dead center. The maximum rate of pressure rise was found to be higher for diesel at higher engine loads however total combustion duration was higher for biodiesel blends.

Download Full-text