Karanja Biodiesel Blends Research Articles

Comparative evaluations of injection and spray characteristics of a diesel engine using karanja biodiesel-diesel blends

SUMMARY The injection and spray characteristics of a diesel engine with 7.4-kW rated power output for use of different karanja biodiesel blends (B10 and B20) are studied for identifications of further scope of performance improvement and emission reduction. The dynamic injection timing advanced for the biodiesel blends resulting in higher NOx emission, which increased from 2.94 g/kW-hour with base diesel to 3.40 g/kW-hour with B20. At the rated load, the dynamic injection timing advanced from 9.2 deg. crank angle before top dead centre (CA BTDC) with base diesel to 9.3 and 9.4 deg. CA BTDC for B10 and B20, respectively. The in-line injection pressure increased from 460 bar with base diesel to 480 bar with B20, and in-cylinder injection duration also increased from 9.5 deg. CA with base diesel to 10.2 deg. CA with B20. The penetration distance increased from 33.37 mm with base diesel to 34.80 mm and 34.25 mm with B10 and B20, respectively. Sauter mean diameter (SMD) increased from 11.39 µm with base diesel to 12.71 and 17.09 µm for B10 and B20, respectively, at the rated load. Air entrainment increases for the biodiesel blends, and it enhances the mixing rate of injected fuel with surrounding hot air. Vaporization time of biodiesel droplets increases because of larger SMD. However, increase in over penetration distance, large SMD and high vaporization time for the biodiesel blends would lead to deteriorated performance and emission characteristics of diesel engines. The remedial measures of spray characteristics for further performance improvement and emission reduction also are highlighted in the paper. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A nonlinear regression based multi-objective optimization of parameters based on experimental data from an IC engine fueled with biodiesel blends

This study reports the results of an experimental investigation of the performance of an IC engine fueled with a Karanja biodiesel blends, followed by multi-objective optimization with respect to engine emissions and fuel economy, in order to determine the optimum biodiesel blend and injection timings complying with Bharat Stage II emission norms. Nonlinear regression has been used to regress the experimentally obtained data to predict the brake thermal efficiency, NOx, HC and smoke emissions based on injection timing, blend ratio and power output. To acquire the data, experimental studies have been conducted on a single cylinder, constant speed (1500 rpm), direct injection diesel engine under variable load conditions and injection timings for neat diesel and various Karanja biodiesel blends (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 50% and 100%). Retarding the injection timing for neat Karanja biodiesel resulted in an improved efficiency and lower HC emissions. A tradeoff relationship between the NOx and smoke emissions is observed, which makes it difficult to determine the optimum blend ratio. The functional relationship developed between the correlating variables using nonlinear regression is able to predict the performance and emission characteristics with a correlation coefficient (R) in the range of 0.95–0.99 and very low root mean square errors. The outputs obtained using these functions are used to evaluate the multi-objective function of optimization process in the 0–20% blend range. The overall optimum is found to be 13% biodiesel-diesel blend with an injection timing of 24°bTDC, when equal weightage is given to emissions and efficiency.