Impact of compression ratio on combustion, performance and exhaust emissions of diesel engine fueled with Undi methyl ester-diesel and Undi ethyl ester-diesel blends

Abstract

The current study emphasizes on the influence of nonedible, easily accessible Undi ester blended diesel in single-cylinder, four-stroke, naturally aspirated, direct-injection variable compression ratio diesel engine. All tests were accomplished by varying volumetric proportions of Undi methyl ester (UME) and Undi ethyl ester by 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% and compression ratio (CR) from 16:1–20:1. The Undi esters consolidation to diesel, especially enhances brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and decreases brake specific energy consumption (BSEC) of the engine. In comparison with Diesel, ester fuel blends produce lower unburnt hydrocarbons (UHC), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM) emissions with the cost of higher oxides of nitrogen (NOX). With the increase in compression ratio from 16 to 20. All Undi ethyl ester diesel blends have on an average of 1.44% slightly improved brake thermal efficiency, 1.41% lower brake specific fuel consumption and it emits comparatively on an average 7.90% lesser carbon monoxide, 7.21% lower unburnt hydrocarbon, 0.59% lower particulate matter and 1.94% higher oxides of nitrogen emission than UME diesel blends with an increment in CR from 16 to 20. In addition, ester blends showed higher maximum In-cylinder pressure and heat release rate than commercial diesel. Undi ethyl ester blends show 0.82%, 1.08% on an average higher maximum In-cylinder pressure and heat release rate than UME Diesel blends when CR increased from 16 to 20. Undi ester Diesel blends are found to be utmost substitute to commercial diesel fuel in all features such as combustion, performance and emissions characteristics.