Investigation of preheated Dhupa seed oil biodiesel as an alternative fuel on the performance, emission and combustion in a CI engine

Abstract

The present study investigates the suitability of preheated Vateria indica methyl ester (VIME) as an alternative fuel for a diesel engine. VIME is a renewable, non-toxic and sustainable alternative biodiesel obtained from Dhupa fat by transesterification. This study aims to evaluate the combustion, performance, and emission characteristics of four different blends such as B0 (0% VIME and 100% mineral diesel), B30, B50 and B100 at elevated fuel inlet temperatures ranging from 35 °C to 95 °C. The tests are carried out in a single cylinder diesel engine at optimum loading condition and fixed speed. Results are obtained in terms of brake thermal efficiency (BTE), brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC), in-cylinder pressure, heat release rate and exhaust emissions (CO, HC, NOX, CO2 and soot). It is observed that the preheating of blends decreases the viscosity which enhances fuel spray characteristics, leading to higher engine performance, lower CO and HC emissions with a slight increase in NOX and CO2 emissions. BTE and peak in-cylinder pressure for B100 at 95 °C and 75% load are increased by 7.44%, 2.97% respectively compared to unheated B100 biodiesel. BSFC, CO, HC emissions at 75% load for B100 at 95 °C are reduced by 26.73%, 28.08%, 42.7% respectively compared to unheated B100.