Influence of variation of injection angle on the combustion, performance and emissions characteristics of Jatropha Ethyl Ester

Abstract

There is a continuous effort to find an alternative fuel to substitute or supplement petro-based fuels. In this respect non edible biodiesel is economically competitive, technically and environmentally acceptable, and gives no threat to the existing norms. Methyl ester of Jatropha oil (JOME) has been extensively studied as a potential fuel but literature lacks on the study of ethyl ester Jatropha oil (JOEE) as a fuel. Both are renewable and can be easily derived from biomass. In the present study, yielding of JOEE was found 92.62% and JOME was 98.47%, experimentally. Physicochemical properties of the fatty acids composition including viscosity, density, calorific value, flash point and cetane index were evaluated and compared for methyl esters and ethyl esters. In the present study, the effect of the 20% blends of Jatropha oil ethyl ester (JOEE) was tested on IC engines with varying injection angle as 25bTDC, 23bTDC and 21bTDC with varying load conditions from no load to 100% percent of rated load with the intervals of 20%. Its effect has been evaluated by considering combustion analysis and performance parameters and emission characteristic of JOEE. Combustion characteristics of JOEE blended fuels was done by using P-θ diagram for the in-cylinder pressure. It was high at 25° before top dead center (bTDC) and low at 21 bTDC and 23° lie between the two. Heat release rate was found decreasing with the increase of injection angle after burning stage. Brake thermal efficiency (BTE), brake specific energy consumption (BSEC), and in cylinder pressure, unburned hydrocarbon (HC) and carbon mono oxides (CO) increases with increase of injection angle. Whereas heat release rate, oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and smoke opacity decreases with increase of injection angle for 20% blend of JOEE. The results are comparable for JOEE considering long term operation of diesel engine in the hour of need.