Mineral Diesel Research Articles

Evaluation of diesel engine performance with high blended diesel-biodiesel fuel from waste cooking oil

The production of fossil fuel reaches its peak during the current decade. Unfortunately, the reserves of this fuel are depleting with time and limited to certain regions of the world which alarm for a series energy crisis in the future. Furthermore, the world starts to face the problem of global warming which increases rapidly and needs to be controlled.Waste cooking oil is one of the domestic available sources is the waste cooking oil. This source can represent a viable source in different countries which is free of cost. In this study, investigation of using a high blend of waste cooking oil biodiesel-diesel fuel is conducted in term of fuel property and engine performance. The results revealthat diesel fuel has the lower viscosity which is lower than that of WCOB by about 34%. However, this difference is converged with blended fuel B30 to about 9%. Furthermore, diesel fuel has higher heating value than WCOB by about 18%. However, this difference is converged with blended fuel B30 to about 4%.The maximum engine brake thermal efficiency observed with blended fuel B30 over the whole engine speed compared to mineral diesel and pure biodiesel. Accordingly, it can be suggested as a high blended fuel for diesel engine.

Evaluating the combustion and emission phenomenon of algal and cotton seed biodiesel as fuel for compression ignition engine

PurposeVast areas have been studied toward combustion and emission analysis in vegetable oil methyl esters and quite a few in algal oil biodiesel. To analyze the better alternate source for diesel engine, this study aims to investigate the combustion behavior and emission characteristics between cottonseed biodiesel and algal oil biodiesel on comparison with mineral diesel in a compression ignition engine.Design/methodology/approachThe fuel properties like density, kinematic viscosity, calorific value and Cetane number have met the biodiesel standards for both algal and cottonseed biodiesel. At rated power, engine was operated on all three test fuels, where combustion analysis describing in-cylinder pressure, peak pressure, rate of pressure rise and rate of heat release and emission characteristics including hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and smoke for both biodiesel comparing mineral diesel.FindingsAlgal and cottonseed biodiesel showed up to 2-3°CA delayed start of combustion comparing mineral diesel curve. The in-cylinder pressure of algal biodiesel was found to be 68 bar, whereas cottonseed biodiesel exhibited 65 bar at full load condition. Similarly, the rate of pressure rise and rate of heat release of algal biodiesel depicted 7.9 and 10.7 per cent rise than cottonseed biodiesel, respectively. As the load increased, ignition delay showed decreasing trend, while combustion duration showed an increasing trend. HC, CO and smoke emissions were seen to be lower than mineral diesel with noticeable increase in NOx emission.Originality/valueIn this present investigation, biodiesel from Stoechospermum Marginatum, a marine marco algae, was used to fuel the compression ignition engine. Its combustion behavior and emission characteristics are compared with cottonseed biodiesel, a vegetable oil-based biodiesel having similar physio-chemical characteristics to understand the suitability of algal biodiesel in compression ignition engine. This study involves the assessment of straight biodiesel from macro algae and cottonseed oil on standard operating conditions.

Adaptation of Methanol–Dodecanol–Diesel Blend in Diesel Genset Engine

Miscibility of methanol in mineral diesel and stability of methanol–diesel blends are the main obstacles faced in the utilization of methanol in compression ignition engines. In this experimental study, combustion, performance, emissions, and particulate characteristics of a single-cylinder engine fueled with MD10 (10% v/v methanol blended with 90% v/v mineral diesel) and MD15 (15% v/v methanol blended with 85% v/v mineral diesel) are compared with baseline mineral diesel using a fuel additive (1-dodecanol). The results indicated that methanol blending with mineral diesel resulted in superior combustion, performance, and emission characteristics compared with baseline mineral diesel. MD15 emitted lesser number of particulates and NOx emissions compared with MD10 and mineral diesel. This investigation demonstrated that methanol–diesel blends stabilized using suitable additives can resolve several issues of diesel engines, improve their thermal efficiency, and reduce NOx and particulate emissions simultaneously.

A comparative study of performance and regulated emissions in a medium-duty diesel engine fueled with sugarcane diesel-farnesane and sugarcane biodiesel-LS9

Two sugarcane biofuels and mineral diesel fuel are tested under full load conditions, under the same values of performance and under the European Transient Cycle on an engine test bench, without any modifications to the ECU. The target is to compare engine performance and emissions. At full load, engine performance varies due to the variation in LHV. Under the same values of performance, the sugarcane biodiesel-LS9 provides the lowest THC emissions. The higher CN and exhaust gas recirculation of the sugarcane biodiesel-LS9 and the higher H/C ratio of the sugarcane diesel-farnesane compared to the diesel S50 provide a NOx reduction. Neither the increment in bsfc nor the increment of %EGR for the sugarcane biodiesel-LS9 deteriorate the combustion, so its CO emissions are lower. The sugarcane biodiesel-LS9 leads to the lowest NOx and PM specific emissions under transient operation, followed by the sugarcane diesel-farnesane. The THC and CO specific emissions are higher for the biofuels in comparison to the diesel S50. The main reason for these results is the impact of the properties of the biofuels on the ECU response However, both biofuels produce less harmful emissions at idle conditions, which supports their usage to reduce exhaust emissions in urban areas.

Engine performance and emission of biodiesel fuel prepared from different Ukrainian natural oils

A range of natural oils such as rapeseed, sunflower, corn, linseed, and mustard ones has been used for fatty acid ethyl esters synthesis. The last as pure biodiesel B100 were mixed with fossil diesel B0 to form blends B20, B40, B60, and B80. This study reports the effects of engine load and biodiesel percentage on the performance and emission of a tractor diesel engine fueled with biodiesel–diesel blends. It is stated that mixed fuels little inferior to mineral diesel in engine performance, but the observed reduction is not critical. The results showed that the engine performance (effective power and torque) depends primarily on the content of acids with C18 carbon chain in the oil. It was also found that the highest performance among the blended fuels is introduced by ethyl esters of rapeseed oil, while corn and mustard oil ethyl esters presented the lowest emissions level. The emissions of rapeseed, sunflower, corn, linseed, and mustard ethyl esters are all lower than the base mineral fuel.

Emission reduction in a DI diesel engine using exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) of palm biodiesel blended with TiO2 nano additives

Recent developments in nano additives focuses on lowering the diesel engine exhaust emissions. While the usage of biodiesel in diesel engine at lower blend percentage (10%–30%) with mineral diesel can be well utilized without any engine modifications, the main striking factor in biodiesel application in diesel engine is higher NOx formation due to excess in-built O2, which could be overcome with the usage of EGR (exhaust gas recirculation). However, EGR usage raises the concerns of HC, CO and smoke emissions. Overcoming the above existing problem, the current research proposal focuses on EGR of B30 (30% palm biodiesel-70%diesel) blended with 25 ppm TiO2 nanoparticles (PBN). Experimental test results obtained for PBN-EGR were outstanding than the conventional PB-EGR system since there is a noticeable drop in BSFC, HC and CO emissions with increase in EGT (exhaust gas temperature) than PBN. NOx emissions of PBN-EGR were on par with PB-EGR throughout the load. At higher engine loads, smoke emitted by PBN-EGR were lower than PB-EGR. With increase in EGR percentage in PBN, cylinder pressure was only marginally lower and heat release rate was higher than PBN. The present investigation enumerates that the synergic effect of nanoparticle, biodiesel and EGR is effective in improving the performance with minimized exhaust emissions.

Energy aspects of using of water-hydrocarbons emulsion as a fuel for diesel engines

The recent development of internal combustion engines (ICE) goes towards the meeting of increasingly stringent requirements imposed to reduce toxic exhaust emissions and fuel consumption and thus to strive for carbon dioxide abatement and against depletion of global natural resources. The research on engines fuelled by water-hydrocarbons emulsions has already a long tradition. So far, tests were based on emulsions obtained in chemical reactions. In this paper, similar analysis results have been presented, but the water-fuel emulsions used for the tests were obtained with making use of the cavitation effect. For this reason a unique cavitator was developed, which was then used to produce water-hydrocarbons emulsions of common, mineral and synthetic diesel fuel. Both of these fuels as well as their water emulsions with 20% water content by volume, were used for tests. The ESC (European Stationary Cycle) test conditions were determined and the engine was tested on engine dynamometer in accordance with the predetermined ESC test conditions. During the tests, under close scrutiny, engine emission and fuel consumption levels were measured . The tests it be more time repeat (with every liquid to engine fuelling was 34 times) to achieve the statistical assessment of the results. By the use of emulsions was found to result in a significant reduction in the consumption of diesel fuels . This result is statistically significant.

Production of Biodiesel from Eucalyptus Tereticornis and its Effect on Combustion, Performance and Emission Characteristics of CI Engines

In the present investigation, bio-oil from Eucalyptus teriticornisis is extracted through steam distillation process. The effect of esterified bio-oil is analysed in a single cylinder compression ignition engine. For this purpose, Eucalyptus biodiesel is prepared by transesterification process with methanol and NaOH as catalyst under variable parameters. The performance, combustion and emission features of a four stroke diesel engine were investigated using methyl ester of eucalyptus biodiesel (EBD100) and its blend with 50% diesel (D50-EBD50). The test outcome reveals that there is marginal increase in brake thermal efficiency and slight drop in brake specific fuel consumption for biodiesel fuel when compared to that of mineral diesel fuel. The use of this biodiesel resulted in decreased emission of Hydrocarbons and Carbon monoxide and higher emission of Nitrogen oxide and Carbon dioxide at part loads. EBD100 exhibits similar heat release rate and lower in-cylinder pressure compared to that of the diesel fuel at same loads.

COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF THE BIODIESEL FUEL JET DEVELOPMENT DYNAMICS IN COMMON RAIL AND CONVENTIONAL DESIGN FUEL SYSTEMS

The results of comparative diesel and biodiesel (Rapeseed oil Methyl Ester (RME) and Rapeseed Oil (RO)) fuel jet structure studies by optical scanning method are presented. There is an interrelation between the dynamics of fuel jet development by the Common Rail (CR) with single-phase injection and Conventional Design System (CDS) and the parameters of mixture formation, which are typical for transferring the operation of the Diesel Engine (DE) from mineral diesel to RME and RO. The structure of the Diesel Fuel (DF) jet is significantly more heterogeneous by the size and number of droplets in CDS in comparison with CR. From the moment of the injection the presence of zones less saturated with fuel contributes to a relatively short induction period – 5° ca. compared to 11…12° ca. in the CR system. Using RME in the CR system in comparison with DF, increases the heterogeneity of the fuel jet, thereby causing a shorter (by 1…2° ca.) induction period in the whole investigated range of injection pressures of 60…160 MPa. The injection of a non-heated RO is accompanied by the shape and structure fluctuations of the fuel jet. RO heating to 65 °C stabilizes the structure of the jet and increases the share of less saturated zones. Promising way of use for the optical scanning method in the mathematical modelling of the DE working process is proposed.

Combustion, performance, and emissions of a compression ignition engine using Pongamia biodiesel and bioethanol.

Concerns over the depletion of conventional fuels have increased interest in new renewable energy sources like alcohol- and vegetable-based oils. Major drawbacks of using esters of vegetable oils, known as biodiesel, include reduced engine performance and increased emissions of oxides of nitrogen. In the present study, the effects of ethanol on biodiesel and mineral diesel blends in a diesel engine are experimentally investigated. The ethanol is produced from cashew apple juice by fermentation. Experiments are conducted using B20 Pongamia biodiesel with ethanol in proportions of 5, 7.5, and 10% by volume at varying load conditions. The results indicate that a B20 biodiesel blend with 7.5% ethanol yields a higher brake thermal efficiency and lower brake-specific energy consumption than pure B20 (20% biodiesel + 80% diesel), as well as significantly reduced emissions such as oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and smoke.

Effect of n-Butanol Concentration on Combustion and Emission Phenomenon using Higher Blends of Cotton Seed Biodiesel in a Direct Injection CI Engine

This paper experimentally investigates the effect of cottonseed biodiesel at higher blend ratios with mineral diesel on the combustion aspects of a direct injection CI engine. The effect of n -butanol concentration at higher blend ratios were also analysed at all loading conditions. CBD was synthesized by base catalysed trans-esterification with methanol and KOH as catalyst with the molar ratio of 8:1. GCMS analysis exposed the presence of Octadecanoic acid methyl ester as major constituent. D50CBD50 (mineral diesel 50% and CBD 50%) a higher blend test fuel was used with D100 as base reference fuel. The experiments were carried out at constant speed of 1500 rpm and the result indicated higher in-cylinder pressure for D50CBD50 n B10 at all loads. At low and part load, the rate of heat release was higher for D50CBD50 whereas, for D50CBD50 n B20 it increased significantly at full load condition. The peak of D50CBD50nB10 was found to exhibit higher ROPR across all loading conditions. CHR of D100 was found to be highest at full load condition whereas D50CBD50 n B20, exhibited peak values at part load condition. The ignition delay showed a decreasing trend across all fuel blends with biodiesel blends and it was lower than diesel. Emission analysis showcased a notable decrease in UBHC and CO emission with a significant increase in NO x , CO 2 and Smoke emission. Among all the test fuels, D50CBD50 n B10 exhibited better combustion phenomenon with reduced emission characteristics.

Impact of hydrotreated vegetable oil and biodiesel on properties in blends with mineral diesel fuel

Physicochemical properties of three biofuels suitable for combustion in automotive diesel engines were compared. Two samples represented commercial hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) with different low temperature properties, one sample represented traditional biodiesel, fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). One HVO sample and FAME were blended into mineral diesel fuel to form two series of mixed fuels. One series represented mixed fuels containing 7, 20, 30, and 50 vol.% of HVO, the other series represented mixed fuels containing the same amount of FAME. All pure fuels as well as all prepared blends were then analyzed and evaluated. The composition and properties of HVO samples are discussed in detail as well as the influence of biocomponents on properties of mixed fuels.

Endoscopic visualization of engine combustion chamber using diesoline, diesosene and mineral diesel for comparative spatial soot and temperature distributions

Diesel engines are the prime workhorses of global transport and agriculture sectors. However, they emit significantly higher quantities of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). This unique study involves evaluation of in-situ spatial distribution of temperature and soot in the engine combustion chamber using high-temperature endoscopy, while the engine was being fuelled with emerging fuels so that suitable strategies for effective control of emissions could be devised. Two new test fuels namely diesosene (K20) (20% kerosene (v/v) blended with mineral diesel) and diesoline (G20) (20% gasoline (v/v) blended with mineral diesel) were compared with the baseline mineral diesel in a conventional direct injection compression ignition (DICI) engine. These two fuels represent relatively inferior quality diesel, which is increasingly available in global markets due to gradually exhausting petroleum resources and is produced from heavier/residual crude left in the oil wells. Diesoline showed superior combustion characteristics compared to diesel and diesosene. Endoscopic visualization technique emerged to be an effective tool, wherein real-time combustion characteristics of various test fuels could be successfully evaluated in a time efficient and cost-effective manner. This research article shows the experimental implementation of an emerging optical technique, which might be potentially useful in designing more efficient engines in quicker turn-around time for research and development.

Mutagenicity and Cytotoxicity of Particulate Matter Emitted from Biodiesel-Fueled Engines.

Biodiesel engines produce several intermediate species, which can potentially harm the human health. The concentration of these species and their health risk potential varies depending on engine technology, fuel, and engine operating condition. In this study, experiments were performed on a large number of engines having different configurations (emissions norms/fuel used), which were operated at part load/full load using B20 (20% v/v biodiesel blended with mineral diesel) and mineral diesel. Experiments included measurement of gaseous emissions, and physical, chemical, and biological characterization of exhaust particulate matter (PM). Chemical characterization of PM was carried out for detecting polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's) and PM bound trace metals. The biological toxicity associated with PM was assessed using human embryonic kidney 293T cells (HEK 293T). The mutagenic potential of the PM was tested at three different concentrations (500, 100, and 50 μg/mL) using two different Salmonella strains, TA98 and TA100, with and without liver S9 metabolic enzyme fraction. PM samples exhibited cytotoxic effect on HEK 293T cells (IC50 < 100 μg/mL) and there was significant potential for reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Comparison of different engines showed that modern engines (Euro-III and Euro-IV compliant) produced relatively cleaner exhaust compared to older engines (Euro-II compliant). Biodiesel-fueled engines emitted lower number of particles compared to diesel-fueled engines. However, chemical characterization revealed that biodiesel-fueled engines exhaust PM contained several harmful PAHs and trace metals, which affected the biological activity of these PM, as reflected in the biological investigations. Mutagenicity and cytotoxicity of PM from biodiesel-fueled engines were relatively higher compared to their diesel counterparts, indicating the need for exhaust gas after-treatment.

An investigation on CRDi engine characteristic using renewable orange-peel oil

Aiming towards discovering a solution for the imminent fossil fuel crisis, the research contributes towards the utilisation of orange peel oil as a potential alternative to mineral diesel while strictly adhering to the emission norms. The study reveals the performance, combustion and emissions characteristics obtained upon operating a 20% by volume of OPO blended with diesel, in a compression ignition engine, integrated with a common rail direct injection (CRDi) system. The fuel injection pressures were varied as 400 bar, 500 bar and 600 bar. Furthermore, two stage injection strategies were employed while varying the pilot charge quantity as 10%, 20% and 30%. Subsequently, 10% EGR was employed for the test with 30% pilot injection quantity upon realising that the respective NOx emissions were the highest for the same. All the results were compared with the test results while utilising diesel at 600 bar injection pressure. For OPO20 the brake thermal efficiency at full load was observed to be 31.37% higher and the brake specific fuel consumption 5.53% lower than that for diesel. In-cylinder pressure values recorded were almost similar to diesel corresponding to brake power. Heat release rate was significantly higher in case of orange peel oil. Additionally, it was found that smoke, unburned hydrocarbons content and carbon monoxide emission decreased by 16.30%, 27.63% and 42.28% respectively in the engine exhaust. Oxides of nitrogen were recorded to be 15.46% higher than that of diesel.

Production of Garcinia gummi-gutta Methyl Ester (GGME) as a Potential Alternative Feedstock for Existing Unmodified DI Diesel Engine: Combustion, Performance, and Emission Characteristics

Abstract In the current scenario, the use of fossil fuel is increasing sharply in the global energy store and playing a highly hazardous role in the ecological system, besides contributing to global warming. Biodiesel is one of the most credible keys for addressing this issue. The present experimental study has been done on Kirloskar make TAF-1 model compression ignition (CI) engine, powered by Garcinia gummi-gutta methyl ester (GGME) biodiesel and its blends. Experimental results were correlated with those of mineral diesel. To start with, biodiesel was synthesized from Garcinia gummi-gutta seed oil, assisted by novel Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase (TL) enzyme linked biocatalyst transesterification. Using nanotechnology, ferric oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles were prepared using the coprecipitation method. The TL enzymes were covalently linked with magnetic Fe3O4 nanomaterial, powered using the immobilization method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses. A large quantity of TL functional groups attached with Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticle in reaction with an active functional group in oils leads to improved efficiency and effective recycling via an external magnetic field. At the end of 74 h of reaction time with confined optimization conditions, the transesterification process yielded 93.08 % GGME. All the physiochemical properties of GGME blends were investigated as per ASTM standards. Raw GGME was blended with mineral diesel in various proportions, namely B10, B20, B30, B40, and B100. The fuel blends were analyzed in terms of combustion, performance, and emission characteristics. Test results revealed B20 (20 % GGME + 80 % diesel) blend as on par with mineral diesel in terms of brake thermal efficiency (BTE), unburned hydrocarbon (UBHC), and carbon dioxide (CO2), followed by nitrogen oxides (NOx) and smoke emissions. At 100 % load, cylinder pressure, the heat release rate (HRR), brake specific energy consumption (BSEC), and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions of B20 were significantly lower than mineral diesel. Overall, B20 was showcased as a reliable alternative fuel for the CI engine.

Variations of cetane number of jatropha biodiesel blends with mineral diesel

Cetane number (CN)- a prime indicator of diesel fuel quality, is a quantity indicating the combustion behaviour of diesel fuel and compression required for ignition in diesel engines. This study examines the determination of CN of Jatropha biodiesel blends with mineral diesel using their physical properties, and their variations of CN with percentage composition of Jatropha biodiesel in the blends. Jatropha biodiesel, converted through a transesterification process of its oil, is obtained and blended with diesel to obtain blend B10 (10% biodiesel and 90% diesel) on a volumetric basis, at 25 o C ambient temperature and the same basis was employed for blends B20, B30, B40 and B50. The specific gravity and mid-distillation characteristic were obtained using a hydrometer and distillation curve apparatus based on ASTM D1298 and D86 standards respectively. The CN of Jatropha oil, its biodiesel and Jatropha biodiesel blends with diesel were analytically determined, employing the empirical relationship between measured physical properties of a two-variable cetane index equation. The results show that the CN of the Jatropha biodiesel increases significantly (about 29%) after transesterification compared with that of the Jatropha oil. Moreover, the specific gravity and CN of the blends increase with the percentage composition of Jatropha biodiesel in the blends. The CN of Jatropha biodiesel is 44.10, which is 8.7% higher than that of mineral diesel (40.62). It can be implied from the research outcomes that blending Jatropha biodiesel with diesel increases the CN of the blends, thus, could be used as cetane point (number) enhancer.

Comparative compression ignition engine performance, combustion, and emission characteristics, and trace metals in particulates from Waste cooking oil, Jatropha and Karanja oil derived biodiesels

In the present study, comparison of performance, combustion and emission characteristics of a single cylinder compression ignition (CI) genset engine fueled by biodiesels derived from Waste cooking oil (WCO), Jatropha and Karanja oils vis-á-vis baseline mineral diesel has been carried out. Performance and combustion investigations were carried out at constant engine speed (1500 rpm) and six engine loads (0–100%). WCO biodiesel showed slightly higher heat release rate (HRR) than baseline mineral diesel, while it was slightly lower for Karanja and Jatropha biodiesels. Hydrocarbons (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOX) emissions were lower, while carbon monoxide (CO) emission was relatively higher for biodiesels compared to baseline diesel. Smoke opacity was higher for Karanja and Jatropha biodiesels compared to baseline diesel. WCO biodiesel exhibited comparable smoke opacity with baseline mineral diesel except at full load, where it was relatively lower. Particulates were collected from the engine exhaust on a quartz filter paper using a partial flow dilution tunnel at 50 and 100% engine loads, for trace metal analysis using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). It was found that trace metals such as Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Zn and Al showed higher concentrations in particulates from all test fuels, while Ba, Cd, Cr, Mn and Mo showed relatively lower concentrations in the particulates collected.

TERNARY FUEL MIXTURE OF DIESEL, RAPESEED OIL AND TYRE PYROLYTIC OIL SUITABLE FOR MODERN CRDI ENGINES

The focus on seeking alternative fuels for combustion engines has been on the environmental and political scene for many years. Simultaneously there is a more and more serious problem of non-degradable waste utilization. In the present work an attempt has been made to asses both of those aspects by proposing a tailor-made, 3-component mixture consisting of mineral diesel, crude rapeseed oil and waste tyre pyrolytic oil. It was proven that the addition of pyrolytic oil can improve some basic drawbacks of rapeseed oil / diesel mixtures like high density and viscosity or low cold filter plugging point. On the basis of maximum bio-component share and optimum physicochemical properties a best fuel sample (40% mineral diesel oil, 55% rapeseed oil and 5% pyrolytic oil fraction) had been selected for engine tests, performed on a light-duty multi-cylinder Compression Ignition (CI) engine with electronic, Common Rail (CR) injection system. The steady state tests were performed for two rotational speeds and two injection strategies (single and sequential fuel injection), for each of which a full load sweep was performed. The engine research included in-cylinder pressure analysis along with efficiency estimation and exhaust gas emission measurements. The research confirmed the assumption that the selected fuel mixture is suitable for modern CI engines. The specific fuel consumption was similar or lower for the tested fuel compared to standard diesel, except the cases were sequential injection was incorporated. Emissions remained on similar levels as for both fuels except Total HydroCarbons (THC) at sequential injection operation points, which correlated with lower fuel conversion efficiency.

Review of Experimental and Computational Studies on Spray, Combustion, Performance, and Emission Characteristics of Biodiesel Fueled Engines

Biodiesel has emerged as a suitable alternative to mineral diesel in compression ignition (CI) engines in order to ensure global energy security and to reduce engine out emissions in near future. Biodiesel derived from various feedstocks available worldwide fits well in the current fuel supply arrangement for transport sector. However, biodiesel as an alternative transportation fuel has been extensively investigated because of differences in its important fuel properties compared with baseline mineral diesel. Since fuel properties greatly influence spray development, combustion, and emission formation in internal combustion (IC) engines, a number of experimental and computational studies on biodiesel usage in CI engines have been performed to determine its brake thermal efficiency (BTE), gaseous emissions, durability, etc., by various researchers using variety of engines and feedstocks. In the present paper, a critical review of the effect of biodiesel's fuel properties on engine performance, emissions, and combustion characteristics in existing diesel engines vis-a-vis conventional diesel has been undertaken. In addition, the progress and advances of numerical modeling involving biodiesel are also reviewed to determine the effect of fuel properties on spray evolution and development of reaction mechanisms for biodiesel combustion simulations. Fuel properties are discussed in two categories: physical and chemical properties, which are key parameters affecting spray and combustion processes. Subsequent sections review spray, combustion, emissions, and performance characteristics of biodiesels under various engine operation conditions. In the last section of this review paper, numerical modeling of biodiesel covering recent numerical models and schemes to understand the behavior of biodiesel combustion and pollutants formation is included. This review paper comprehensively summarizes biodiesel fuel's (BDFs) spray, combustion, and emission characteristics using experimental and numerical approaches. Limitations and scope for future studies are discussed in each section.