Working Characteristics of a DICI Engine by Using Water Emulsion Biodiesel Fuels

Abstract

The present experimental investigation is carried out to establish the stability, compatibility and feasibility of working characteristics of DICI engine by using Jatropha biodiesel, Pongamia biodiesel and related water emulsion biodiesels. Experiments are carried out in two phases on a DICI engine test rig which includes CI engine, electric loading device, exhaust gas analysers, and a data-acquisition system. The performance and emission characteristics of the engine are studied by using neat diesel, Jatropha and Pongamia biodiesel in the first phase, and similar experiments are conducted by water – biodiesel emulsion fuels in the second phase. The water–biodiesel emulsion fuels are prepared with the aid of a mechanical homogenizer in the proportion of 10% water, 88 % biodiesel, and 2 % surfactants (by volume). Sequentially, the stability characteristics of water–biodiesel emulsion fuels are analyzed. The results indicated that slight improvement in BTE and BSFC for water – biodiesel emulsion fuels compared to biodiesel fuels. The exhaust emissions of NOx and smoke opacity were decreased for the water biodiesel emulsion fuels as compared to respective neat biodiesel and neat diesel. CO & unburned HC emissions were slightly increased for the water biodiesel emulsion fuels compared to respective neat biodiesels and less than of neat diesel.