http://www.iaeme.com/IJMETasp 123 editor@iaeme.com
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET)
Volume 6, Issue 11, Nov 2015, pp. 123-131, Article ID: IJMET_06_11_015 Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/IJMET/issues.asp?JType=IJMET&VType=6&IType=11 ISSN Print: 0976-6340 and ISSN Online: 0976-6359 © IAEME Publication
PERFORMANCE AND EMISSION CHARACTERISTICS OF MAHUA BIODIESEL IN A DI- DIESEL ENGINE
Chaitanya P
Junior Lecturer, Government Vocational Junior College, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
P. V. Rao
Associate Professor, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
A. Swarna Kumari
Professor, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India.
ABSTRACT
This work is focused to determine the performance and emissions characteristics of a naturally aspirated direct ignition diesel engine fueled with diesel fuel (DF), mahua biodiesel (MBD) and preheated mahua biodiesel (MBD-PH). The fatty acid composition of MBD is determined and its properties like density, viscosity, cetane number, calorific value and iodine value are also determined. Engine performance tests showed that brake specific fuel consumption of MBD is higher than that of DF. The emission results from experimentations supported that MBD has substantially decreased the carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and smoke emissions. It is observed that MBD-PH has further reduced the emissions. Thus, mahua biodiesel can be used as an alternative fuel in automotive diesel engines.
Key words:
Emissions, Performance, Mahua Biodiesel, Fatty Acid Composition, Properties.
Cite this Article:
Chaitanya P, P. V. Rao and A. Swarna Kumari. Performance and Emission Characteristics of Mahua Biodiesel In A DI- Diesel Engine,
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology
Performance and Emission Characteristics of Mahua Biodiesel In A DI- Diesel Engine http://www.iaeme.com/IJMET.asp 124 editor@iaeme.com
1. INTRODUCTION
Burning of fossil fuels poses a strong threat to our environment as it emits harmful gases like carbon dioxide (CO
2
), carbon monoxide (CO), Sulfur oxides (SOx), and Nitrogen oxides (NOx) [1]. Several studies [2] have shown that diesel and biodiesel
blends reduce smoke opacity, particulates, un-burnt hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide emissions, but nitrous monoxide emissions have slightly increased. The brake power of biodiesel was nearly the same as with petrodiesel, while the specific fuel consumption was higher than that of petrodiesel [3]. Biodiesel is referred as mono-alkyl esters of long-chain-fatty acids made from renewable lipid sources (vegetable oils, or animal fats) by a trans- esterification chemical reaction. Advantages of biodiesel include domestic origin, renewability, biodegradability, higher flash point, inherent lubricity, reduction of most regulated exhaust emissions, as well as miscibility with petrodiesel. Several scientists [4-12] have investigated the effects of biodiesel fuel on exhaust emissions, and found a significant reduction in carbon monoxide, sulfur, smoke, particulate matter and noise emissions.
2. MAHUA OIL
The inedible oil extracted from seeds of mahua as shown in figure 1, is the resource for the production of biodiesel which is abundantly available in India. It has a carbon chain between C
14
and C
24.
It has a very high viscosity, and density. Different methods are being used to reduce the viscosity of oils such as pyrolysis, cracking and transesterification.
Figure 1
Mahua oil Seeds
2.1. Transesterification
In a transesterification reaction, one mole of triglyceride reacts with three moles of alcohol (molar ratio of methanol to vegetable oil of 3:1) to form one mole of glycerol and three moles of the respective fatty acid alkyl esters. The process is a sequence of three reversible reactions, in which the triglyceride molecule is converted step by step into diglyceride, monoglyceride and glycerol. The process of transesterification removes glycerin from the triglycerides and replaces it with the alcohol used for the conversion process. This process decreases the viscosity but maintains the cetane number and the heating value. MBD has a higher cetane number than diesel fuel, no aromatics, no sulfur, and contains 10
–
11 % oxygen by weight [13].
3. FUEL PROPERTIES
3.1. Fatty Acid Composition of Mahua Biodiesel
Fatty acid esters are composed of two building blocks, the fatty acid chain and the alcohol. Therefore, both these moieties in fatty esters influence fuel properties and
Chaitanya P, P. V. Rao and
A. Swarna Kumari
http://www.iaeme.com/IJMET.asp 125 editor@iaeme.com
varying one or both of them can lead to a change in fuel properties. For biodiesel, this issue is rendered more complicated because its fatty ester composition reflects the fatty acid profile of the feedstock used for its production. The fatty acid composition of MBD is as shown in Table 1. It has a carbon chain between C
14
to C
24
.
Table 1
Fatty acid Composition of Mahua Biodiesel
Fatty Acid Name Carbon Number Composition %
Myristic C14:0 1.00 Palmitic C16:0 23.00 Stearic C18:0 19.00 Oleic C18:1 53.00 Linoleic C18:2 3.00 Linolenic C18:3 0.10 Arachidic C20:0 0.40 Behenic C22:0 0.15 Lignoceric C24:0 0.10
3.2. Physical and Chemical Properties of Mahua Biodiesel
The physicochemical properties of MBD and DF are tabulated in Table 2.
1. Viscosity
The viscosity is a measure of the internal friction or resistance of a substance to flow. As the temperature of the substance is increased, its viscosity decreases and it is therefore able to flow more readily. It increases with the increase of molecular weight and decrease as the number of double bonds increases. It affects the atomization quality, size of drop and penetration. Fuel with high viscosity tend to form larger droplets on injection which can cause poor fuel atomization during the spray, increases the engine deposits, needs more energy to pump the fuel, and wears fuel pump elements and injectors.
2. Density
Density affects the mass of fuel injected into the combustion chamber and the air
–
fuel ratio. This is because fuel injection pumps meter fuel by volume not by mass and a denser fuel contains a greater mass in the same volume. The biodiesel fuel has more density than diesel and hence it is less compressible. If a fuel is less compressible, the pressure will build more quickly and the fuel will be injected into the combustion chamber earlier in the compression cycle. Therefore it reaches the injector nozzle within a very short time.
3. Cetane number
The cetane number is a relative measure of the delay time between injection and auto-ignition of fuels. Fuels with a lower cetane number can be accumulated before the start of combustion, result in poor combustion characteristics and lead to excessive emissions of smoke and particulates. This leads to a sudden pressure rise followed by pressure pulses and subsequent vibrations causing diesel knock, which leads to poor thermal efficiency, excessive noise and reduced life of engine components. Higher cetane numbers improve cold starting of the engine, increase fuel economy, reduce
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