Performance of a low heat rejection engine fuelled with tobacco seed oil and its methyl ester (TSOME)

Abstract

In this investigation, the engine components were coated with metal matrix composite materials. Thus, a compression ignition (CI) was converted into low heat rejection (LHR) engine. Initially diesel fuel (DF), tobacco seed oil (TSO) and tobacco seed oil methyl ester (TSOME) were tested on an uncoated engine in order to make the basis for comparison. The results obtained show reduced brake thermal efficiency, increased brake specific energy consumption and an increase in emissions for TSO when compared with DF operation. However, with TSOME marginal improvement in BTE, BSEC and slight reduction in emissions were observed when compared with TSO. Then TSO and TSOME were tested in the coated engine. Results obtained were compared with results of DF, TSO and TSOME in non LHR engine operation. These results showed that the LHR operation improved the performance of the engine with the reduction in emissions for the fuels used when compared with non LHR operation. Abbreviations: BP: Brake power; BTE: Brake thermal efficiency; BSFC: Brake specific fuel consumption; BSEC: Brake specific energy Consumption; CO: Carbon monoxide emission; EGT: Exhaust gas temperature; HC: Hydrocarbon; NOx: Oxides of nitrogen; NHRR: Net Heat release rate; RPR: Rate of pressure rise; DF: Diesel fuel; TSO: Tobacco seed oil; TSOME: Tobacco seed methyl ester; LHR: Low heat rejection engine; MMC: Metal matrix composite; CA: Crank angle; CI Compression ignition