Combustion analysis of a single cylinder variable compression ratio small size agricultural DI diesel engine run by Nahar biodiesel and its diesel blends

ABSTRACT

This study explores the combustion characteristics of a single cylinder four stroke variable compression ratio direct injection diesel engine run by Nahar biodiesel (BD) and its six different blends (B5, B10, B20, B30, B40, and B50). Combustion duration reduced up to B40 and slightly increased for B50 and significantly for B100. Peak cylinder pressure (PCP) increased with BD concentration in the blend. Maximum rate of pressure rise (MROPR), heat release rate, and ignition delay (ID) reduced with an increase in BD share in the blend. At full load, PCP for B100 is obtained as 70.91 bar, whereas for diesel it is 70.04 bar. The MROPR is observed to be 5.67 bar/°CA for diesel, whereas 5.31 bar/°CA for B100 at full load. Peak heat release rate is observed to be 64.7 J/°CA for diesel, whereas it is 54.41 J/°CA for B100. ID for the blends reduced by 1–2°CA compared to diesel fuel. Overall, it is recommended to use BD up to B40 blend in a DI diesel engine primarily employed in gen sets and agricultural units.

Abbreviation: BD: Biodiesel; DF: Diesel fuel

KEYWORDS:

• Nahar biodiesel
• heat release rate
• ignition delay
• cylinder pressure
• combustion
• diesel engine

Acknowledgments

The authors sincerely acknowledge “Apex innovations Pvt. Ltd., Sangli, Maharashtra” for the test engine support and “Indian biodiesel corporation, Baramati,” for the test fuel characterization.

Supplementary Materials

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.