The IUP Journal of Mechanical Engineering
An Experimental Investigation of Thumba-Diesel Fueled Operated Variable Compression Ratio Diesel Engin

Article Details
Pub. Date :May, 2019
Product Name : The IUP Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Product Type : Article
Product Code : IJME41905
Author Name : Rahul Goyal, Mayur Deo, Nishant Chaudhary, Parth Chauhan, Aditya Chauhan and Pradeep Kumar Gupta
Availability : YES
Subject/Domain : Management
Download Format : PDF Format
No. of Pages : 18

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Abstract

The paper aims at depicting the effects of varying loads at various Compression Ratios (CRs) using various thumba oil-diesel blends on a Variable Compression Ratio (VCR) engine. The effect of thumba methyl esters in different proportions with diesel on engine characteristics was investigated. A series of short-term tests were conducted on a single cylinder, 3.6 kW, water-cooled, stationary, VCR, diesel engine. Optimal CR and blend ratio were determined for maximum efficiency and minimum emissions. Characterization of fuel properties for all the test blends was conducted. The performance and emission characteristics of the diesel engine for thumba oil blends at both rated and optimal CR were compared with those of pure diesel. B20 blend was inferred as optimal blend as it provided optimal results in terms of Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE) and Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC) and also provided substantial decrement in emissions though nitrogen oxides (NOx) emission increased marginally. This blend, when tested with various CRs, provided CR 18 as the optimal result. Hence, it was established that the use of thumba oil-diesel B20 blend at CR 18 will provide optimal environmental benefits.


Description

Humans are dependent on energy resources for their daily livelihood. Fossil fuels are the major contributors of these energy resources, a majority of which get utilized by the automotive sector (60%). As the human population is increasing at an alarming rate, this has increased the pressure on the depleting reserves of fossil fuels as much of the energy demand is met by these fossil fuels. Over the last century, there has been a 20-fold increase in the consumption of energy worldwide. If we keep on using fossil fuels at this rate, they are going to be finished in the near future. The rapid consumption of fossil fuels is also responsible for climate change, which is the major concern in the present decade. Another major problem with the usage of fossil fuels is increased emission of hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). Studies have shown that gasoline and diesel-driven automobiles are the chief contributors of these greenhouse gases.


Keywords

Thumba oil, Biodiesel, Emission reduction, Engine emissions, Transesterification