Effects of injection timing, injector opening pressure and nozzle geometry on the performance of cottonseed oil methyl ester-fuelled diesel engine

Figures & data

Table 1 Properties of the fuels used.

Sl no.	Properties	Diesel	Cottonseed oil	COME
1	Chemical formula	C13H24	–	–
2	Density (kg/m^3)	840	900	885
3	Calorific value (kJ/kg)	43,000	38,049	39,648
4	Viscosity at 40°C (cSt)	2–5	50	5.00
5	Flashpoint (°C)	75	210	167
6	Cetane number	45–55	48	45
7	Carbon residue (%)	0.1	0.66	–
8	Cloud point	–2	–	7
9	Pour point	–5	–	4
10	Carbon residue	0.13	0.55	0.01
11	Molecular weight	181		227
12	Auto-ignition temperature (°C)	260		470
13	Ash content, by mass (%)	0.57		0.01

Figure 1 Experimental set-up. 1 – Control panel; 2 – computer system; 3 – diesel flow line; 4 – airflow line; 5 – calorimeter; 6 – exhaust gas analyser; 7 – smoke meter; 8 – rotameter; 9, 11 – inlet water temperature; 10 – calorimeter inlet water temperature; 12 – calorimeter outlet water temperature; 13 – dynamometer; 14 – CI engine; 15 – speed measurement; 16 – burette for fuel measurement; 17 – exhaust gas outlet; 18 – outlet water temperature; T1 – inlet water temperature, T2 – outlet water temperature, T3 – exhaust gas temperature.

Table 2 Specifications of a CI engine.

Sl no.	Parameters	Specifications
1	Type	TV1 (Kirlosker make)
2	Software used	Engine soft
3	Nozzle opening pressure	200–225 bar
4	Static injection timing	23° bTDC
5	Governor type	Mechanical centrifugal type
6	No. of cylinders	Single cylinder
7	No. of strokes	Four strokes
8	Fuel	HS Diesel
9	Rated power	3.7 kW (5 HP) at 1500 rpm
10	Maximum engine speed	1500 rpm
11	Cylinder diameter (bore)	0.0875 m
12	Stroke length	0.11 m
13	Compression ratio	17.5:1

Figure 2 Fuel injectors with different holes having a 0.3 mm orifice diameter.

Figure 3 Exhaust gas analyser.

Figure 4 Hartridge smoke meter.

Table 3 Specifications of the exhaust gas analyser.

Parameters	Specifications
Type	DELTA 1600S
Object of measurement	Carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrocarbons (HC)
Range of measurement	HC = 0–20,000 ppm as C3H8 (propane)CO = 0–10%CO2 = 0–16%O2 = 0–21%NOx = 0–5000 ppm (as nitric oxide)
Accuracy	HC = ± 30 ppm HCCO = ± 0.2% COCO2 = ± 1% CO2O2 = ± 0.2% O2NOx = ± 10 ppm NO
Resolution	HC = 1 ppmCO = 0.01 vol.%CO2 = 0.1 vol.%O2 = 0.01 vol.%NOx = 1 ppm
Warm-up time	10 min (self-controlled) at 20°C
Speed of the response time	Within 15 s for 90% response
Weight	800 g

Table 4 Specifications of the smoke meter.

Parameters	Specifications
Type	Hartridge Smokemeter-4
Object of measurement	Smoke
Measurement range for opacity	0–100%
Accuracy	± % Relative
Resolution	0.1%
Smoke length	0.43 m
Ambient temperature range	− 5 to +45°C
Warm-up time	10 min (self-controlled) at 20°C
Speed of the response time	Within 15 s for 90% response
Sampling	Directly sampled from the tail pipe
Power supply	100–240 V AC/50 Hz10–16 V DC at 15 A
Size	100 mm × 210 mm × 50 mm

Figure 5 Effect of the injection timings on BTE for COME biodiesel engine.

Figure 6 Effect of the injection timings on HC emission levels.

Figure 7 Effect of the injection timings on CO emission levels.

Figure 8 Effect of the injection timings on NO_x emission levels.

Figure 9 Effect of the injection timings on pressure variations during full-load engine operation.

Figure 10 Effect of the injection timings on heat release rate during full-load engine operation.

Figure 11 Effect of a three-hole nozzle and varying injection pressures on BTE.

Figure 12 Effect of a four-hole nozzle and varying injection pressures on BTE.

Figure 13 Effect of a five-hole nozzle and varying injection pressures on BTE.

Figure 14 Effect of brake power on HC emission levels at a three-hole nozzle and varying pressures.

Figure 15 Effect of brake power on HC emission levels at a four-hole nozzle and varying pressures.

Figure 16 Effect of brake power on HC emission levels at a five-hole nozzle and varying pressures.

Figure 17 Effect of brake power on CO emission levels at a three-hole nozzle and varying injection pressures.

Figure 18 Effect of brake power on CO emission levels at a four-hole nozzle and varying injection pressures.

Figure 19 Effect of brake power on CO emission levels at a five-hole nozzle and varying pressures.

Figure 20 Effect of brake power on NO_x emission levels at a three-hole nozzle and varying injection pressures.

Figure 21 Effect of brake power on NO_x emission levels at a four-hole nozzle and varying injection pressures.

Figure 22 Effect of brake power on NO_x emission levels at a five-hole nozzle and varying pressures.

Figure 23 Effect of injection pressures on pressure variations with CA during full-load engine operation.

Figure 24 Effect of injection pressures on heat release rate with CA during full-load engine operation.