Synergetic effect of liquid fuel derived from various waste feedstocks on performance, combustion and emission in a compression ignition engine

ABSTRACT

Diesel engines being predominant in transportation sector are limited in addressing the sustainable development goals. The pressing need of environmental concern and fossil fuel depletion enforces the research community toward search of alternative fuels. In such context, waste materials have emerged as a promising feedstock for producing sustainable alternatives for diesel, given their abundance and their significance in waste management. Consequently, in this work, the waste feedstocks identified were waste plastics, waste lubrication oil, waste animal fat obtained from tanneries, waste cooking oil and waste tyres. For extraction of oil from these plastics, lube and tyre oil, pyrolysis was used and transesterification process was adopted for extraction of DLF from waste animal fat and waste cooking oil. The collected DLF was given for fuel property testing and found to be at par to utilize in a CI engine. It was then blended with diesel in the form of B80 (80% DLF and 20% diesel) and named as WTO B80, WLO B80, WCO B80, WPO B80 and WAF B80. To identify the differences in various parameters like combustion, performance and emission of CI engine at various engine loads, a bench test of a single-cylinder direct injection diesel engine without engine modification was done. The blend B80 of waste oil is analyzed in this work for its combustion characteristics and emission of various gases like nitrogen oxide (NO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC) and smoke. Among various liquid fuels tested, WPO B80 blend resulted in 32.81% BTE with NO emission of 1885ppm. The results also show emission of 67.2% of smoke, 0.18% of CO and 48 ppm of HC. The cylinder peak pressure for WPO B80 was at 72.85 bar and 48.04 J/deg CA peak heat was released, which concludes it as a suitable fuel for diesel engine compared to other fuels without any engine customization.

KEYWORDS:

• Liquid fuel
• waste feedstocks
• pyrolysis
• transesterification
• combustion
• emissions

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kiran Suresh

Mr. Kiran Suresh is an active researcher and academician from SRMIST, Chennai. Possessing an experience for 9 years, his notable works include conversion of automotive bumper polywaste into fuel, investigating the synergistic effect of waste lubricating oil using hydrogen into usable fuel, etc., published in reputed journals. His current research focus is on the development of bio fuel derived from waste feedstocks, which puts a spotlight on SDG 7 on Affordable and clean energy.

Leenus Jesu Martin

Dr. M. Leenus Jesu Martin is a distinguished Professor from SRMIST, Chennai, holding an immense experience of more than 30 years in the academics and research, and he is one significant person played key role in the pursuit of alternative and renewable energy sources for automobiles. His potential knowledge aids 5 PhD scholars with 48 scientific articles published in the most renowned journals.

Edwin Geo Varuvel

Dr. Edwin Geo Varuvel is an active researcher and highly experienced academician, currently working as Professor in Mechanical Engineering, at Istinye University, Turkiye. Boasting 20+ years of research experience, he is well-known for his notable contribution to the clean and renewable energy systems for automobiles. He has published more than 150 research articles in highly reputed journals and keep uplifting his research career in the field of green carbon economy for sustainable future.