Combustion of Argemone mexicana biodiesel blends in a constant-volume DICI engine

ABSTRACT

Argemone mexicana methyl ester, prepared by a transesterification process, was tested for combustion analysis with variation of blends and loads at a fixed compression ratio of 17.5. Maximum cylinder pressure was obtained for a 40% blend due to longer combustion duration. The combustion parameter net heat release rate and cumulative heat release rate increase with engine load. The net heat release rate decreases and cumulative heat release rate increases with an increase in the percentage of biodiesel. The crank angle position corresponding to maximum pressure shifts away with an increase in the proportion of biodiesel. The maximum pressure rise rate is highest for diesel and its occurrence is advanced with loading and percentage of biodiesel. Combustion duration decreases with engine loading and increases with concentration.

KEYWORDS:

• Argemone mexicana methyl ester
• combustion
• research engine
• standard diesel
• transesterification

Acknowledgements

This experiment was carried out in the Biodiesel Testing Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, C.V. Raman College of Engineering, Bhubaneswar, India. The authors would like to acknowledge the equipment support extended by the institute.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.