Impact of Fuel Injection Pressure and Compression Ratio on Performance and Emission Characteristics of VCR CI Engine Fueled with Palm Kernel Oil-Eucalyptus Oil Blends

Abstract

Alternative fuels these days are the main concern for the usage in IC Engines because of the depleting natural fossil fuels. Most of the vegetables are edible in nature and are doesn’t fit for usage in IC Engines. Very few non edible oils are available to perform research on usage of such oils in IC Engines. Palm Kernel Oil is one among such oil. Biodiesel has been prepared from the crude Palm Kernel Oil by using Esterification and Transesterification in order to obtain the methyl ester of the Palm Kernel Oil which can be blended with the Eucalyptus Oil which is readily available in the market. In the current study petroleum based diesel fuel is replaced by Palm Kernel Oil and Eucalyptus oil in different blends to evaluate Performance and Emission characteristics. Fuels used are B15: 85% Palm Kernel Oil+15% Eucalyptus oil, B10: 90% Palm Kernel Oil+10% Eucalyptus oil, and B5: 95% palm Kernel Oil+05% Eucalyptus Oil. Injection pressure of the fuel in the combustion chamber of the IC Engines plays a crucial role in the atomization and spray structure of the fuel, upon which the efficient combustion depends. Three injecting pressures i.e., 200, 210 and 220 Bar are examined in the present study to suggest the effective injection pressure. Engine characteristics are also affected by the compression ratio of the IC Engine. Effects of the compression ratio has also been studied under three various Compression Ratios such as 14:1, 16.5:1, and 19:1. Complete Experimentation was done on Computerized Variable Compression Ratio Four Stroke Single Cylinder Compression Ignition Engine at five loads. By operating with the above mentioned fuels at different parameters, thus obtained results are analyzed in terms of Mechanical Efficiency, Brake Thermal Efficiency, and Exhaust Gas Temperature. Emissions like CO, HC, CO2, NOx gases are analysed using Five Gas Analyzer.. Performance and Combustion Characteristics are increased whereas, Emissions are lowered upon increase in Injection Pressure, Compression Ratio, and the blending percentage of Eucalyptus oil in the fuel when compared with the conventional diesel fuel.