Thermal and Emission Performances of Neat Yellow Oleander (Thevitia Peruvian) Biodiesel Treated with an Antioxidant in Compression Ignition Engine

Abstract

Biodiesel is synthesized by the transesterification process from vegetable oils or animal fats. Biodiesel can be used in diesel engines either neatly or in blends with diesel. Although the usage of biodiesel has many other advantages such as environmental friendliness and renewability, it has the major issue of long-term storage. Biodiesel is oxidized to form sedimentation and precipitation when it comes into contact with air, light, humidity, metal, and moisture. Oxidized biodiesel is unfit to be used in engines that obstruct fuel lines and injectors. The storage stability of biodiesel can be controlled by antioxidants which repress the oxidation reactions. In this investigation, an antioxidant called TBHQ (Tertiary Butyl Hydroquinone) is applied to yellow oleander biodiesel (Thevetia peruviana) at different concentrations ranging from 1000-4000 PPM to enhance storage stability. However, the study aims to assess any effect of the antioxidant on the engine and emission performance of biodiesel in various concentrations of TBHQ in a single-cylinder Kirloskar diesel engine. The Brake-Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC) increases with increased TBHQ concentration in biodiesel and corresponding Brake Thermal Efficiencies (BTE) are lower with an increase in concentration. However, Brake Power (BP) remains unchanged at all loads for all test fuels and is not affected by TBHQ. Emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) have decreased with the use of biodiesel, and the effect of TBHQ is minimal. NOx emissions for biodiesel or biodiesel treated with TBHQ with various concentrations have been lower at 50% load on the engine compared to diesel, but at high load, they lose the distinction between them.