Experimental investigation on biodiesel–diesel blends in a single-cylinder DI diesel engine

Abstract

The present study analyses the utilisation of biodiesel–diesel blends in a single-cylinder diesel engine. Biodiesel is prepared via conventional transesterification with standard conditions (60°C reaction temperature, 1% by wt. catalyst, 7.5:1 molar ratio and 120 min reaction time). The test engine utilised is a single-cylinder naturally aspirated direct injection diesel engine. The test engine is operated at 100% load with different engine speeds ranging from 1000 to 2400 rpm. Performance, combustion and emission characteristics were analysed at different engine speeds. The MB10 blend (10% biodiesel + 90% diesel) has resulted in higher brake power of 7.43%, lowered brake-specific fuel consumption and carbon dioxide by 7.49% and 7.6%, respectively. Also, it can be concluded that the MB10 blend lowered the smoke by 24% and hydrocarbon by 10.34% with respect to neat diesel. The MB20 blend resulted in a lowered CO profile than the CO profile of diesel fuel by about 0.84%. However, the MB10 blend’s average CO profile is improved by 1.97% than mineral diesel. These results are compromised with higher CO and NOx profiles of 2.4% and 8.9%, respectively.

KEYWORDS:

• Diesel
• engine
• performance
• combustion
• emission
• biodiesel

Disclosure statement

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

Data availability statement

The data used to support the findings of the study are included in the article.