Influence of injection pressure on performance and emission characteristics of single cylinder RCCI engine fuelled with ethanol gasoline and diesel biodiesel blends

Abstract

Reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) has great potential for a simultaneous reduction in Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) with increase in thermal efficiency. In this experimentation, an attempt is made to investigate the effect of injection pressure on the performance emission and combustion characteristics of single cylinder RCCI engine. Literature reveals that injection pressure has a great influence on the quality of charge preparation, fuel stratification, and incylinder reactivity. Suitably modified engine was operated for 0 to 12 kg loads, for 400 to 700 injection pressure. The blend of ethanol gasoline E20 used as a low reactivity fuel and blend of diesel jatropha biodiesel B20 used as a high reactivity fuel. Experimental results showed that increase in injection pressure enhances the degree of charge homogeneity, reduces the combustion duration, and provides higher rate of energy release. For 12 kg load and 700 bar injection pressure, it is observed that 5% rise in thermal efficiency, 27% reduction in smoke opacity, 2% reduction in HC, 4% reduction in CO and 20% rise in NOx as compared to 400 bar injection pressure.