Experimental analysis on unmodified diesel engine characterization with novel biodiesel blends extracted from waste Trichosanthes cucumerina seeds

Abstract

ABSTRACT Energy recovery and utilization from waste biomass presently have an attractive scope in the waste management process. The present experimental analysis explores the methodology for biodiesel production from waste seeds and investigates the unmodified diesel engine combustion, performance and emission parameters. The novel trichosanthes cucumerina bio-oil (TCO) is extracted from waste trichosanthes cucumerina seeds using a soxhlet extractor and converted into trichosanthes cucumerina methyl ester (TCME) by the trans-esterification process. The various TCME blends have been prepared with base diesel fuel (BDF) on the volume fraction of 20, 30, 50, and 100%, respectively, with their significant properties are evaluated as per ASTM standards. The considered test fuels were analyzed in a single-cylinder unmodified diesel engine at the rated power output of 5.2 kW. It is observed that the TCME20-D80 fuel blend resulted in improved brake thermal efficiency (BTE) of 32.82% as equated with other TCME blends. However, this BTE was slightly decreased with BDF. Subsequently, the brake specific energy consumption of TCME fuel blends was increased for peak power outputs. TCME20-D80 fuel blend offers a significant reduction in diesel engine emissions such as HC, CO and smoke, and penalty in NOx. Also, the TCME fuel blend combustion parameters of the ignition delay period, in-cylinder gas pressure and heat release rate were analyzed and compared with BDF. It is revealed that the fuel blend of TCME20-D80 can be used as a potential substitute to BDF in unmodified diesel engine applications.