Investigation on reduction in consequences of adding antioxidants into the algae biodiesel blend as a CI engine fuel

Abstract

In this work, the use of microalgae biodiesel-diesel blend has been investigated as an alternative fuel for compression ignition engine. Tests have been performed at different loads and the acquired data have been studied for various performance and emission parameters such as brake thermal efficiency (BTE), unburnt hydro carbons (UBHC), carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and smoke opacity. It can be seen that while running with algae biodiesel blend CO, UBHC and smoke opacity were decreased by 28%, 15% and 21% respectively with 38% increase in NOx emission and marginal variation in BTE. As a result of adding antioxidant into the algae biodiesel blend NOx emission was reduced by 25% and CO, UBHC and smoke emissions were increased by 32%, 50% and 36% respectively. To reduce these side effects attempt was made to test the engine at advanced and retarded injection timing. As a result of the combined effect of modified injection timing and antioxidant, a decrease in CO, UBHC and smoke opacity by an average of 20% with 30% increase in NOx emission were observed at advanced injection timing and vice versa. A trade off injection timing of 24.5, 23.5, 24 and 24 CAD was also obtained for NOx between smoke, UBHC, CO and BTE respectively for the engine NOx control with less compromise on its CO, UBHC, smoke and BTE.