Performance and Wear Debris Characteristics of Karanja Biodiesel and Biolubricant as a Substitute in a Compression Ignition Engine

Abstract

A dependency on non-renewable petroleum fuel and lubricant in Compression Ignition (CI) engines is concerning when considered with respect to both price and pollution. Alternative energy for CI engines extracted from plants is reliable, renewable, and infinitely more sustainable than fossil fuels. The CI engine's performance and wear analysis is carried out with biodiesel and biolubricant through Condition Based Monitoring (CBM). Biodegradable plant-derived biodiesel extracted from non-edible Karanja seed oil is used as a substitute in assessing the engine's combustion, performance and wear characteristics. An initial benchmark was established for the engine's performance with diesel and engine oil (SAE20W40), after which it was subjected to a long-term endurance test when fuelled with biodiesel blend 20BD as fuel under biolubricant blend 20BL as a lubricant. Lubricating oil samples are collected after 50, 75, 100, 125, and 150 hrs. Finally, the used oil analysis was conducted to analyse the wear debris of oil samples using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) technique. Results revealed lower wear debris detection in the case of biodiesel and biolubricant combination due to better lubricity of plant-derived oil than that of petroleum-derived oils. Finally, the Karanja biodiesel and biolubricant can be used as a substitute in CI engines without requiring engine alteration.