Review of physicochemical properties and spray characteristics of biodiesel.

Abstract

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 deal with seventeen goals for the planet's sustainability. The present review focuses on affordable and clean energy through the effective combustion of fuels with minimal pollution. Effective fuel spray characteristics are essential for combustion among various parameters and fuel properties. The inherent nature of the fuel has a functional relationship with the injection and injectors' conditions. Therefore, the study of fuels' physicochemical properties is essential. This review deals with the spray characteristics of biodiesel. Biodiesels in its purest form and blended with diesel, di-n-butyl ether, dimethyl ether, diethyl ether, ethanol, and butanol are considered for the study. The physicochemical properties of biodiesels, injection conditions, and injector constraints are analyzed to understand the spray process. The atomization features such as spray tip penetration, Sauter mean diameter, spray cone angle, spray area, and spray volume are analyzed. The chemical properties of biodiesel are utilized to describe the spray's transient behavior. In addition, supporting systems for spray diagnostics and models are also discussed. The highlighted significant spray challenges features and future research direction benefit the fuel and combustion community.