The effect of coconut oil and diesel fuel blends on diesel engine performance and exhaust emissions

Abstract

The effect of a coconut oil as diesel fuel alternatives or as direct fuel blends are investigated using a single-cylinder, direct-injection diesel engine. The spray characteristics in terms of the mean droplet diameter of these fuels were measured with a phase Doppler Anemometer. Operation of the test engine with the pure coconut oil and coconut oil–diesel fuel blends for a wide range of engine operating conditions was shown to be successful even without any engine modification. Results show that neat coconut oil fuels gave lower smoke and NO x emissions.