Performance and emissions of a diesel engine burning blends of Jatropha and waste cooking oil biodiesel

Abstract

Blending of biodiesels is a straightforward but efficient solution to the issue of improving biodiesel characteristics in cold climates. A comparison of emissions and performance of a diesel engine powered by methyl ester blends made from jatropha and waste cooking oil (WCO) was investigated. Jatropha oil was converted into biodiesel through esterification and transesterification, but WCO biodiesel was produced by transesterification. Volume percentages of WCO and jatropha biodiesels as 5, 10, 15, 20, and 100% were prepared. Peak improvements in brake thermal efficiency (BTE) were 7% and 6% for JB20 and WB10 + JB10, respectively, at 75% of engine output power over diesel fuel. Maximum reductions in brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) related to diesel oil were for JB20 and WB10 + JB10 6 and 5%, respectively. For JB100, the maximum increase in exhaust gas temperature over diesel oil was 45%. For WB10 + JB10, the maximum reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emission about pure diesel was 10%. WB10 + JB10 blend had carbon monoxide (CO) emission reduction up to 6% than fossil diesel. For WB10 + JB10, the maximum reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx) emission relative to crude diesel was 10%. WB10 + JB10 had the greatest reduction in smoke emission when compared to diesel oil as 22%. WB10 + JB10 had the largest reduction in unburned hydrocarbons (HC) of 14% over diesel oil at 75% of output power. In comparison to other fuels, the WB10 + JB10 and JB20 biodiesel blends produce better engine performance and lower emissions as compared to other biodiesel blends. As an alternative fuel in conventional diesel engines, it is recommended to use a mixture of jatropha and WCO biodiesels of 10% by volume.