Experimental studies in a single cylinder diesel engine using palm oil as alternate fuel.

Basha, M. Shameer ; Reddy, B.G. Krishna ; Reddy, K. Vijaya Kumar 等

Introduction

With the rapid development of automobile engines and fast depletion of fossil fuels, the discrepancy between demand foe and supply of energy has become and increasingly acute problem. Among the many different types of alternative fuels, vegetable oils and their esters come across as good choices. They are renewable, as the carbon released by the burning of vegetable oils is used when the oil crops undergo photosynthesis.

Palm Oil is an environmentally-friendly, renewable energy source that could also produce cost savings for taxpayers and private businesses and is produced from palm trees. Palm oil with an observed that by using Palm oil as there is unnecessary change in engine structure. There are estimated global (annual) production of 25-27 million tons is the second most produced oil in the world. By country, the leading producers of palm oil are Malaysia (13 million tons) and Indonesia (10 million tons), and together they have provided about 80% to 90% of the world's palm oil.

It has been differences between properties of the Palm oil and diesel oil. For the smooth engine performance optimum oil mixture.

S. Bari et al[1] focused his study on finding out the effects of fuel on the injection System utilizing a modified method of friction test, which involves injecting fuel outside combustion chamber during motoring.

The researchers also used a mechanism to preheat the palm oil. The results are comparable with pure diesel when the heating is done above 60?C.

Y.D. Wang et al [2] carried out a series of experiments on different vegetable oil blends varying in 25%, 50% and 75% proportions and at different load conditions varying between no load to full load i.e. 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100% loads.

The other researchers like, Bruwer et al [3], Jan Cloin [4] studied different blends of non-edible vegetable oils other than palm oil and cotton seed oil, which are the main consideration in the present research. They reported similar trends when compared to cotton seed oil and palm oil. The cotton seed oil and palm oil certainly show promising trends when compared to other vegetable oils. The objectives of this study is to examine the performance of DI diesel engine with various blends of palm oil with diesel at various load conditions, to compare the performance combustion characteristics and emission of the above oil

Experimental Procedure

The engine is started by hand cranking and with the help of the decompression lever. The rack in the fuel pump is adjusted to run the engine at rated speed of 1500 rpm. (At no load). Cooling water supply valve is opened, and the water flow is adjusted such that the outlet temperature of water is around 50[degrees] to 60[degrees]C. When the engine runs steadily without fluctuations in the speed, time taken for 25cc of fuel consumption is noted down.

The exhaust gas temperature is also measured. Load is applied on the dynamometer by opening the water inlet valve. When load is applied, the speed falls. The engine speed is brought back to the rated speed (of 1500 rpm) by adjusting the fuel supply. Once again, the time taken for 25cc of fuel consumption and exhaust gas temperatures are noted down. Now the engine is loaded in steps from zero loads to rated load.

In all these cases, the engine speed is maintained constant at rated speed by adjusting the fuel supply. Smoke density is also measured at no load, half load and rated load conditions. Constant speed performance is conducted at different injection pressure of diesel, Palm oil and blends of Palm oil- diesel. At each of this condition, energy balance heat converted into work and heat carried away by exhaust gases are calculated.

Results and discussions

The analysis of the experimental data obtained to characterize the fuel propertied of Palm oil and Palm oil-diesel blends. The performance of the engine with these fuels is also analyzed.

Preheated palm oil is suitable for long time engine operation. It reduces HC and CO emissions as compared to diesel fuel operation. Palm oil is environmental friendly biodegradable oil, renewable and good suitable fuel for diesel engine. Physico chemical properties of preheated Palm oil are comparable to Diesel fuel.

Figure (a) shows that the SFC of Cotton seed oil is around 8 to 9% greater than the corresponding SFC with diesel. This can be attributed to the lower value of calorific value of Palm oil compared to diesel.

Figure (b) shows the comparison of S.F.C. at three different injection pressures of 200 kg/[cm.sup.2], 225 kg/[cm.sup.2] and 250kg/[cm.sup.2]. S.F.C. is minimum at 225 kg/[cm.sup.2]. with increase in the fuel injection pressure, the droplet size, no doubt decreases, but the velocity is so high, that it goes and hits the cylinder walls

Figure (c) shows the comparison of SFC vs. BKW at three different injection pressures of 200, 225, 250kg/[cm.sup.2]. From the figure it can be observed that the SFC is minimum at 225 kg/[cm.sup.2]. This can be explained that the increase in fuel injection pressures depends on the droplet size. This is also supported by the higher exhaust gas temperature and higher smoke levels as shown in Figures (d) and (e).

It can be seen from the figure (f) there is a 4-6% decrease in the S.F.C with preheating. This is because of the improved spray characteristics.

It is observed that for 50%-50% Palm oil -diesel blend, the brake thermal efficiency is almost identical with that of pure diesel operating throughout the range of power output. However, for the 75%-25% Palm oil -diesel blend, the thermal efficiency is 4-5% less. This can be attributed to the poor spray characteristics.

[FIGURE (a) OMITTED]

[FIGURE (b) OMITTED]

[FIGURE (c) OMITTED]

[FIGURE (d) OMITTED]

[FIGURE (e) OMITTED]

[FIGURE (f) OMITTED]

Conclusions

Test result shows 25% cotton seed oil and 75% diesel oil was suitable for it to be used as diesel fuel. The main factor influencing the specific fuel consumption or thermal efficiency is good at fuel injection pressure at 225Kgf.Heat losses in the engine are reduced with the usage of Palm oil because exhaust gas temperatures are lower when compared to diesel. Hence brake thermal efficiency of Palm oil is higher.

References

[1] S. Bari , T.H. Lim, C.W. Yu, "Effects of preheating of crude palm oil (CPO) on injection system, performance and emission of a diesel engine" School of Mechanical Engineering, University Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, Seberang Perai, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia. Renewable Energy 27 (2002) 339-351

[2] Y.D. Wang a, * , T. Al-Shemmeri b, P. Eames a, J. McMullan a, N. Hewitt a, Y. Huang a, S. Rezvani a, "An experimental investigation of the performance and gaseous exhaust emissions of a diesel engine using blends of a vegetable oil"

(a) Centre for Sustainable Technologies, School of Built Environment, University of Ulster, Shore Road, Newtownabbey, Antrim BT37 0QB, United Kingdom

(b) Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Technology, Staffordshire University, Stafford ST18 0DF, United Kingdom. SCIENCE DIRECT, Applied Thermal Engineering 26 (2006) 1684-1691

[3] Bruwer, J. J., B. D. Boshoff, F. J. C. Hugo, L. M. DuPlessis, J. Fuls, C. Hawkins, A. N. VanderWalt, and A. Engelbert. 1981. The Utilization of sunflower seed oil as renewable fuel diesel engines. In Agricultural Energy, Vol. 2, Biomass Energy/Crop Production. ASAE Publication 4-81. St. Joseph, MI: ASAE.

[4] Jan Cloin, "Coconut Oil as a Biofuel in Pacific Islands-Challenges and Opportunities "South Pacific Applied Geosciences Commission

(1) M. Shameer Basha, (2) B.G. Krishna Reddy, (3) K. Vijaya Kumar Reddy , (4) P. Ravi Kumar and (5) B. Sudheer Prem Kumar

(1) 9-4-86/136 1st Floor, Salarjung Colony, Mehdipatnam

Hyderbad 500008, Andhra Pradesh

(1) E-mail: shameerbasha1@yahoo.com

(2) 17-1-389/1/203, Prasanth Nagar, Saida Bad, Hyderabad 500058, Andhrapradesh

(2) E-mail: saradaktishna_in@yahoo.com

(3) Professor In Mechanical Department, Jntuce, Jntu

Kukutpally, Hyderbad500085, Andhra Pradesh

(3) E-mail: kvijayakumarreddy@gmail.com

(4) Associate Professor, Nit, Warangal506004, Andhra Pradesh

(4) E-mail: ravikumar_puli@gmail.com

(5) Assoc. Professor In Mechanical Department, Jntuce, Jntu

Hyderbad500085, Andhra Pradesh

(5) E-mail: sudheerpk@yahoo.co.in