ABSTRACT
In the present study, the effects of base diesel and biodiesel (karanja, B100) on combustion, performance and emissions including greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, CH4 and N2O) of an automotive diesel engine were experimentally investigated. The regulated emissions such CO, hydrocarbon (HC) and smoke decrease with B100; however, NOx emission increases at all loads. The GHG emissions such as CH4 and N2O are less at all loads but CO2 emission is higher. The in-cylinder temperature is higher with B100. Combustion characteristics indicate the peak heat release rate is lower and combustion duration is higher with B100. An important conclusion that emerged from the study is that the CH4 and N2O emissions are inversely proportional to in-cylinder temperature. Although total CO2-equivalent GHG emission in the engine is moderately higher with B100, some quantity of the gas (with consideration of the uncertainty in the amount of carbon-neutral fuel) in the atmosphere will be recycled by the karanja plants.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.