Combined assessment of injection timing and exhaust gas recirculation strategy on the performance, emission and combustion characteristics of algae biodiesel powered diesel engine

ABSTRACT

Currently, the vehicle industry is confronted with issues such as the depletion of fossil resources, an increase in crude oil costs, and stricter emission regulatory standards. In this scenario, the use of viable alternatives to diesel as a fuel is necessary. This study discusses the combined effects of injection time and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) on neat algal biodiesel-powered diesel engines. The transesterification technique was used to extract algal oil methyl ester (AOME), and the majority of the fuel qualities of AOME were quite comparable to diesel. The practicality of neat AOME for diesel engines operating at varied injection timings such as 19º BTDC, 23º BTDC, and 27º BTDC was investigated. The results of the tests revealed that advanced injection timing has a 3.02% higher BTE than standard fuel injection timing at maximum load for the AOME. Compared to other injection timings at full load, the neat AOME at 27º BTDC has better combustion characteristics and lower exhaust emissions. At full load, however, NOx emissions were higher. NOx emission was reduced by 35.24% when AOME was burned at 27º BTDC combined with 10% exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) compared to 27º BTDC without EGR.

KEYWORDS:

• Algae oil methyl ester
• exhaust gas recirculation
• injection timing
• combustion
• performance
• emissions

Acknowledgement

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University for funding this work through the research groups program R.G.P. 2/105/43. This study was supported by Taif University Researchers Supporting Project Number (TURSP-2020/40), Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.

Disclosure statement

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

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University [R.G.P. 2/105/43]; Taif University Researchers Supporting Project Number [TURSP-2020/40].