Performance Assessment of Dual Fuel Engine Operated with Agricultural Waste and Diesel

Abstract

To find out the replacement of fossil fuel, numbers of alternative fuels have been developed. It has been observed that in a stationary diesel engine, producer gas is a better substitute for diesel. Through the process of gasification which is a thermo-chemical process, the solid biomass can be converted into a mixture of combustible gases that can be used in various applications. In the present work, while operating in dual fuel mode, a significant reduction in diesel fuel was detected. A 5 kW downdraft gasifier and a four-stroke diesel engine are used to conduct the experiments. Three types of biomasses (rice husk, rice straw and sugarcane bagasse) are considered to study the effect of producer gas on specific consumption of diesel in the dual mode of the engine. The producer gas is generated by using the biomasses and used along with diesel to run the engine in dual mode. The results obtained from the biomasses are compared to find the saving of diesel in dual mode. Results highlighted the better performance of engine when operated with the biofuels, obtained from the biomasses.