Fuel efficiency improvement of a dual-fuel engine fuelled with Honge oil methyl ester (HOME)–bioethanol and producer gas

Figures & data

Figure 1 Block diagram of bioethanol production.

Figure 2 Mechanical stirrer.

Table 1 Composition of the C. calothyrsus shrub.

Cellulose	40–45%
Hemicellulose	16–20%
Lignin	25–30%
Ash	3–4%
Extractive content	16–18%

Table 2 Properties of the tested fuels.

Sl no.	Properties	Diesel	HOME	Test method	Bioethanol	BE5	BE10	BE15	Babul wood	Composition of the gasifier feedstock
1.	Viscosity at 40°C (cSt)	3.5	5.84	ASTM D445	1.2	5.1	4.8	4.4	Moisture content (% w/w)	11.9
2.	Flash point (°C)	56	170	ASTM D93	13–14	152	146	140	Ash content (% w/w)	0.79
3.	Calorific value (kJ/kg)	43,000	36,100	ASTM 2382	21,300	35,958	35,896	35,834	Volatile matter (% w/w)	85.8
4.	Density (kg/m^3)	840	870	ASTM D1298	780	880	870	862	Fixed carbon (% w/w)	13.4
5.	Type of oil	–	Non-edible	–	–	–	–	–	Sulphur (% w/w)	0.05
6.	–	–	–		–	–	–	–	Nitrogen (% w/w)	0.25
7.	–	–	–		–	–	–	–	Gross calorific value (kJ/kg)	17463.2
8.	–	–	–		–	–	–	–	Density (kg/m^3)	288

Table 3 Composition of the producer gas.

Constituents (%)
Type of wood	CO2	H2	CH4	H/C	N2	Water vapour
Babul wood	18–22	15–19	1–5	0.2–0.4	4.5–5.5	4

Figure 3 Experimental set-up.

Table 4 Specifications of the engine.

Sl no.	Parameters	Specification
1.	Type of engine	Kirloskar make, single-cylinder, four-stroke, direct-injection diesel engine
2.	Nozzle opening pressure	200–205 bar
3.	Rated power	5.2 kW (7 HP) at 1500 rpm
4.	Cylinder diameter (bore)	87.5 mm
5.	Stroke length	110 mm
6.	Compression ratio	17.5:1

Table 5 Specifications of the downdraft gasifier.

Type	Downdraft gasifier
Supplier	Ankur Scientific Energy Technologies Pvt Ltd, Baroda
Rated capacity	62,735 kJ/h
Rated gas flow	15 Nm^3/h
Average gas calorific value	5–5.6 MJ/m^3
Rated woody biomass consumption	5–6 kg/h
Hopper storage capacity	40 kg
Typical conversion efficiency	70–75%

Table 6 Specifications of the exhaust gas analyser.

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 HC CO = ± 0.2% CO CO2 = ± 1% CO2 O2 = ± 0.2% O2 NOx = ± 10 ppm NO
Resolution	HC = 1 ppm CO = 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 response time	Within 15 s for 90% response
Sampling	Directly sampled from the tail pipe
Power source	100–240 V AC/50 Hz
Weight	800 g
Size	100 mm × 210 mm × 50 mm

Table 7 Specifications of the smoke meter.

Type	Hartridge Smoke Meter-4
Object of measurement	Smoke
Range of opacity measurement	0–100%
Accuracy	± 2% relative
Resolution	0.1%
Smoke length	0.43 m
Ambient temperature range	− 5°C to +45°C
Warm-up time	10 min (self-controlled) at 20°C
Speed of response time	Within 15 s for 90% response
Sampling	Directly sampled from the tail pipe
Power supply	100–240 V AC/50 Hz 10–16 V DC at 15 amps
Size	100 mm × 210 mm × 50 mm

Figure 4 Variation in BTE with brake power.

Figure 5 Variation in EGT with brake power.

Figure 6 Variation in smoke opacity with brake power.

Figure 7 Variation in HC emission levels with brake power.

Figure 8 Variation in CO emission levels with brake power.

Figure 9 Variation in NO_x emission levels with brake power.

Figure 10 Variation in fuel substitution with brake power.

Figure 11 Variation in ignition delay with brake power.

Figure 12 Variation in combustion duration with brake power.

Figure 13 In-cylinder pressure versus crank angle for different HOME/bioethanol blend–producer gas combinations at the 80% load condition.

Figure 14 Rate of heat release versus crank angle for different HOME/bioethanol–producer gas combinations at the 80% load condition.