In the recent research, as a result of depletion of world petroleum reserves,
considerable attention has been focused on the use of different alternative
fuels in diesel engines. The present work aims to ensure the possibility of
adding ethanol as an additive with animal fat biodiesel that is tested as an
alternative fuel for diesel in a CI engine. In this study, biodiesel is
obtained from waste pork lard by base-catalyzed transesterification with
methanol when potassium hydroxide as catalyst. 2.5%, 5% and 7.5% by volume of
ethanol is blended with neat biodiesel in order to improve performance and
combustion characteristics of a diesel engine. The experimental work is
carried out in a 3.7 kW, single cylinder, naturally aspirated, water cooled,
direct injection diesel engine for different loads and at a constant speed of
1500 rpm. The performance, emission and combustion characteristics of
biodiesel-ethanol blends are investigated by comparing them with neat
biodiesel and standard diesel. The experimental test results showed that the
combustion and performance characteristics improved with the increase in
percentage of ethanol addition with biodiesel. When compared to neat
biodiesel and standard diesel, an increase in brake thermal efficiency of
5.8% and 4.1% is obtained for BEB7.5 blend at full load of the engine. With
the increase in percentage of ethanol fraction in the blends, peak cylinder
pressure and the corresponding heat release rate are increased.
Biodiesel-ethanol blends exhibit longer ignition delay and shorter combustion
duration when compared to neat biodiesel. Optimum reduction in carbon
monoxide, unburned hydrocarbon and smoke emission are attained while using
BEB5 blend at full load of the engine. However, there is an adverse effect in
case of nitrogen oxide emission.
The effects of ethanol addition with waste pork lard methyl ester on performance, emission and combustion characteristics of a diesel engine