Experimental study on combustion characteristics of a CI engine runs on a renewable fuel

Abstract

ABSTRACT Currently, the world is focusing on utilising biofuels as much as possible for internal combustion (IC) engine applications. Several strategies are being employed to improve fuel efficiency and decrease exhaust emissions of compression ignition (CI) engines which run on different biofuels. Fuel air mixture formation is one of the key aspects that influence engine behaviour in terms of combustion, emission, and performance of CI engines. In this research work, an attempt was made to induce air motion in a CI engine which was operated with an orange oil diesel (O-D) blend. For this purpose, a single cylinder, 4-stroke, air-cooled, direct injection (DI) diesel engine producing power of 4.4 kW at a constant speed of 1500 rpm was used. The piston of the engine was modified by two means to create turbulence; (i) piston with micro holes, and (ii) piston with micro holes and spiral grooves. The combustion characteristics of the test engine run on the O-D blend, without and with the change in piston geometries were evaluated, compared with the baseline diesel fuel operation, and presented in this paper.