Behaviour of Oxygenated Biofuels in Engines

An experimental investigation was conducted to disclose the outcomes of oxygenate mixture as additives in Jatropha biodiesel on the performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of a direct injection compression ignition engine. The experiments were conducted in an instrumented single-cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke, direct-injection diesel engine, equipped with data acquisition system, AC alternator, and an electric loading device. Four oxygenate additives, namely, Ethylene Glycol (C2H6O2), Di methyl Carbonate (C3H6O3), 2-Butoxyethanol (C6H14O2), & Propylene Glycol (C3H8O2) were selected and nine different combinational oxygenate test fuels were prepared attaining ratios of 1, 2, and 4% volume of oxygenates with biodiesel. A significant reduction of emissions such as CO by 60%, Unburned HC by 11%, and smoke emissions by 27% were observed. Substantial improvement in brake thermal efficiency by 6% was observed, while NO emission increased marginally by 4%.

Impact of Diesel-Butanol-Waste Cooking Oil Biodiesel Blends on Stationary Diesel Engine Performance and Emission Characteristics

Feed stock cost and NOX emission are the major barriers for commercialization of biodiesel. Waste cooking oil is well identified as one of the cheapest feed stocks for biodiesel production. This chapter reduces NOX emission of waste cooking oil biodiesel. Test fuel blends are prepared by mixing diesel (20 to 50 v/v%), butanol (5 v/v%), and waste cooking oil biodiesel (45 to 75 v/v%). Fuel properties of waste cooking oil biodiesel are enhanced due to addition of diesel and butanol. Brake specific energy consumption of the blends is higher than diesel fuel. Harmful emissions like carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, and smoke opacity are lower for blends than diesel fuel. Increasing biodiesel concentration in blend also reduces hydrocarbon emission to a significant extent. The obtained results justify the suitability of proposed cheap blends for diesel engine emission reduction.

Emission Aspects of Biomass-Based Advanced Second Generation Bio-Fuels in IC Engines

Rapid industrialization and growth in population in urban regions augment the pollution levels from transportation sectors, especially from diesel fleets. A wide array of research activities were carried out to satisfy the energy needs as well as reduce the emission levels, which poses a big challenge to the research community. In this situation, biomass-derived fuels provide a ray of hope to the research community to address the emission problem by adapting closed carbon cycle at low cost. This chapter gives an overview to the readers about the present energy scenario, biomass-based fuel, upgradation techniques for biomass fuel, and engine adaptability of biomass-based fuels. This chapter provides a clear glimpse of biomass energy, one of the potential energy resources in the near future.

Comparative Assessment of Various Nanoadditives on the Characteristic Diesel Engine Powered by Novel Tamarind Seed-Methyl Ester Blend

This chapter focuses on enhancing the performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of a novel biodiesel blend-a mix of diesel (80%) and tamarind seed oil (20%), represented as tamarind seed methyl ester (TSME) with alumina oxide (Al2O3), Carbon nano tubes (CNT), and Cerium oxide(CeO2) considered as potential nanoparticles. These were added to TSME at concentration of 50 ppm and were uniformly dispersed in the biodiesel blend with the help of a magnetic stirrer as well as an Ultrasonicator to attain stable suspension. The immersed nanoparticles in the tamarind seed oil blend exhibit multiple advantages such as an enhanced air-fuel mixing, better oxidation process, larger surface area to volume ratio results in higher brake thermal efficiency, as well as a significant reduction in smoke opacity, hydrocarbon, and carbon monoxide emissions.

Influence of Nano-Particle Additives on Bio-Diesel-Fuelled CI Engines

Biodiesel is proven to be the best substitute for petroleum-based conventional diesel fuel in existing engines with or without minor engine modifications. The performance characteristics of biodiesel as a fuel in CI engine are slightly lower than that of diesel fuel. The emission characteristics of biodiesel are better than diesel fuel except NOX emission. The thermo-physical properties of biodiesel are improved by suspending the nano metal particles in the biodiesel, which make them an observable choice for the use of nanoparticles-added fuels in CI engine. High surface area of nanoparticles that promotes higher operating pressure and heat transfer rates that further quicken the combustion process by providing better oxidation. Thus, it has been inferred that addition of nanoparticles as an additive to biodiesel fuel blends in diesel engines and its effects on performance, combustion, and emission characteristics are discussed in this chapter.

Biodiesel Production

Biodiesel, the best-suited replacement for petroleum diesel, is now drawing attention of researchers owing to its advantages and potential for environmental conservation. In this perspective, this chapter explores the need for biodiesel in present-day scenario by highlighting its properties, advantages, and disadvantages. The chapter presents an overview of different techniques proposed by researchers to produce biodiesel. Among different approaches, the emphasis is on catalytic transesterification, non-catalytic transesterification, microwave heating, and ultrasound assisted processes. The chapter also briefly notes the effects of experimental factors on final product recovery.

Reduction of NOx on a Single Cylinder CI Engine Running on Diesel-Biodiesel Blends by New Approach

Diesel-water emulsion has been used in diesel engine combustion for a long time with encouraging results, but the point of efficiency and NOx trade-off represent a highly challenging task for diesel engines. A new approach was used in this study. The new blends which were obtained by mixing diesel-neem oil biodiesel blend (70:30 by volume) with water (5% by volume), span-80 surfactant (1% by volume), and cetane enhancing additive of Di-tertiary butyl peroxide (0.5% by volume). The blend is designated as B3. This chapter investigates performance and emission characteristics of a single cylinder diesel engine running on B3 fuel. Performance and emission of the engine fueled by B3 fuel results were compared with diesel (D), diesel-biodiesel blend (B1), and diesel-biodiesel with water emulsion through surfactant (B2). B3 fuel had better performance and improved emissions than B1 fuel and diesel fuel, with NOx emission especially reduced by up to 35%.

Effect of Additives on the Performance and Emission Attributes of Diesel Engines

Automobile vehicles are the main sources of environmental pollution, especially those with diesel engines. They cause a number of health diseases and harm to the ecosystem. Biofuels are a suitable alternative fuel for IC engines which have potential to reduce engine emissions with more or less equal performance of the petroleum fuels. Though Biodiesel is suitable for Diesel engines, it suffers with high density, lesser calorific value, high fuel consumption and increased emissions of nitrogen. However, additives minimize the deteriorating factors of the Biodiesel and maintain the international pollution norms. Many different types of additives are used with the diesel and (or) biodiesel to enhance performance and to improve its quality. The researchers conclude that the use of additives along with diesel and biodiesel improves the performance and reduction in emission. This review discusses effects of additives with diesel and biodiesel on the performance and emission characteristics of Diesel engines.

Process Optimization Study of Alternative Fuel Production From Linseed Oil

This chapter focuses on the selection of optimum parameters for transesterification of linseed oil biodiesel production in the presence of calcium oxide (CaO) obtained from the waste eggshells. The waste chicken eggshells were calcined at 900°C for 4 hours and it was characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD). The transesterification process was conducted according to L9 orthogonal array with selected input control parameters such as methanol to oil molar ratio, reaction temperature, and catalyst loading. The output parameters were biodiesel yield and viscosity. The multi-objective, decision-making technique called Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) was used to identify the optimum transesterification process parameters to obtain maximum biodiesel yield with minimal viscosity. The optimized values for transesterification process parameters were depicted as methanol to oil ratio of 6:1, reaction temperature of 65°C, and catalyst loading of 5% w/w.

Investigation of Alternative Fuels as Low Reactivity Fuel in Port-Charged Compression Ignition (PCCI) Engine

In this chapter, four alternative fuels were obtained from non-edible oils, namely Moringa oleifera seed oil, pumpkin seed oil, waste cooking palm oil, and lemon oil. The existing diesel engine intake manifold was converted into port charged compression ignition engine by adopting necessary supporting components and control mechanics. In this study, two modes of injection were carried out, namely main injection with conventional fuel and pilot injection with the prepared alternative fuel samples. Due to characteristic fuel properties, lemon oil biofuel in pilot fuel injection experienced high thermal efficiency and low fuel consumption. At all loads, lemon oil biofuel in pilot fuel injection exhibited lower emission than other alternative fuel samples. Lemon oil biofuel in pilot fuel injection and conventional fuel in main injection showed superior combustion characteristics. On the whole, this work recommends the application of the alternative fuel admission in pilot injection mode by adopting PCCI technique to achieve improved engine characteristics.