Comparative analysis of combustion, performance and emission phenomenon of a CI engine fuelled with algal and cotton seed biodiesel

ABSTRACT

The present study compares the effect of algal and cotton seed biodiesel in a single cylinder compression ignition engine. Bio-oil extraction was achieved through grinding operation and soxhlet lipid extraction from cotton seed and Stoechospermum marginatum marco-algae respectively which was followed by single stage transesterification process. Gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry analysis revealed the presence of linoleic acid in prominent proportion for algal biodiesel. The physio-chemical properties of cotton seed and algal biodiesel were comparative and found to be within ASTM D6751 standards. At rated load, neat algal biodiesel showed elevated in-cylinder pressure, rate of pressure rise and rate of heat release. Higher ignition delay with neat biodiesel resulted in prolonged combustion duration. Algal biodiesel produced higher brake thermal efficiency than cotton seed biodiesel along with 16.67% of lower BSFC at full load. Furthermore, lower unburned hydrocarbon, smoke and carbon monoxide was evidenced especially at full load with a significant increase in oxides of nitrogen.

KEYWORDS:

• Biodiesel
• combustion
• ignition delay
• performance
• emission
• algal biodiesel

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.