Experimental investigation on use of hydrotreated Simarouba oil (green diesel) and hydrogen gas in a dual-fuel CI engine.

Abstract

Hydrogen additives to Simarouba glauca vegetable oil (SO) are a common method for addressing the difficulties in combustion caused by SO's poor physical qualities. This research intends to examine parameters such as performance, emission, and combustion characteristics when hydrogen is used as a direct/indirect addition in a SO-fuelled compression ignition (CI) engine. Hydrogen was directly introduced along with intake air until the knocking limit. Experiment was conducted at different load conduction with SO. Through the hydrotreatment process, hydrogen was used in a roundabout way to convert SO to green diesel. Hydrotreated Simarouba vegetable oil (HTSO) enhanced brake thermal efficiency by 23% at full load, whereas direct hydrogen induction improved it by 9% at knock limit. Hydrogen induction resulted in higher NOx emissions than HTSO, at the expense of a slight rise in smoke emissions. Addition of hydrogen lowered both HC and CO emissions directly and indirectly.