Characterization of pine and Eucalyptus oil and correlative evaluation of their performance as diesel blend in conventional diesel engine

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present study envisages the use of diesel blended with plant based oils in conventional engine and their evaluation for engine performance and other emission parameters. Here, individual Pine (P20D80) and Eucalyptus oil (E20D80), and their same (1:1) proportion where ratio mixed (P10E10D80) as a 20% blend with the diesel was used. The selection of mentioned oils was made on the basis of their low viscosity and similarities to fossil diesel. The results revealed that when the engine was operated with P10E10D80, the brake thermal efficiency (5.5%) and lower fuel energy consumption was improved as compared to other blended fuels at full load. Also, the physicochemical characteristics such as viscosity, boiling point lower and calorific value of P10E10D80 were found to be comparable with conventional diesel. The cetane index of P10E10D80 was observed to be lower than E20D80 and conventional diesel, but higher than P20D80. The results revealed that P10E10D80 blend provide a maximum heat release rate of 71.94 J/CA at in-cylinder pressure of 79.63 bar and the ignition delay of the P10E10D80 blend was lower. Moreover, the EGT, HC, and CO smoke opacity emission of the P10E10D80 blend was lower as compared to diesel at full load. Interestingly, the atomization and evaporation rates of P10E10D80 were superior to other blends as well as conventional diesel. The results demonstrated reduction of 15.82%, 23%, 48%, and 26.79% in EGT, HC, CO, and smoke opacity, respectively, with the use of plant based oil blend with diesel. However, NOX emission was increased by 8.60% and observed a 13.50% higher heat release rate compare with blend and conventional diesel at full load. Moreover, an attempt to correlate the constituents of the oils with their performance has also been made.