Environmental effects on the performance and emission characteristics of adding diethyl ether into a biodiesel-powered LHR engine

ABSTRACT

Biodiesel is considered as a viable alternative in regions where traditional diesel fuel is not readily available. In an effort to improve the diesel engine efficiency under these circumstances, combustion components were treated with a coating of partially stabilized zirconia with a 500 µm layer coating using plasma coating technology. In this study, the engine was powered by neat coconut waste cooking oil (CWCO) with diethyl ether (DEE) serving as an additive. A fuel mixture comprising 90% CWCO and 10% DEE was used to compare the performance of coated and uncoated engines to diesel fuel standards. Direct-injection compression ignition engine, tested with loads up to 12 kgf, showed lower BSFC and improved BTE despite lower NOx emissions. HC, CO, and smoke emissions were 18%, 11%, and 19% lower in blends in the 90% CWCO and 10% DEE than blends compared to diesel fuel at higher loads.

KEYWORDS:

• Coconut waste cooking oil
• partially stabilized zirconia
• diethyl ether
• emission
• performance characteristics

List of symbols and abbreviations

BSEC	=	Brakespecific energy consumption
BP	=	Brake power
BTE	=	Brake thermal efficiency
BSFC	=	Brake-specific fuel consumption
CO	=	Carbon monoxide
CWCO	=	Coconut waste cooking oil
DI	=	Direct injection
DEE	=	Diethyl ether
EGT	=	Exhaust gas temperature
HC	=	Hydrocarbon
LHR	=	Low-heat rejection
NOx	=	Oxides of nitrogen
PSZ	=	Partially stabilized zirconia
WCO	=	Waste cooking oil

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Sakthi Rajan C

Sakthi Rajan C working as an Assistant Professor (Mechanical) in SBM college of Engineering & Technology, Dindigul, Anna University Chennai and working in the fields of thermal science, Design, materials, alternative fuels, IC engine and pollution control. He has published research papers at various national and international journals.

Muralidharan K

Dr. Muralidharan K working as a Professor (Mechanical) in PSNA college of Engineering & Technology, Dindigul, Anna University Chennai and working in the fields of alternative fuels, IC engine. He has published research papers at various national and international journals.

Anbarasan B

Dr. Anbarasan B working as an Assistant Professor (Mechanical) in PSNA college of Engineering & Technology, Dindigul. he is working in the field of alternative fuels, Nanoparticles, IC engines. He has published more number of research papers in the international journals and he has received one fund project.

Ramesh Kumar A

Dr. Ramesh Kumar A working as a Assistant Professor (Mechanical) in Sona college of Technology, Salem, Anna University Chennai and working in the fields of thermal science, alternative fuels. He has published research papers at various national and international journals.