An Experimental Study On Jatropha Curcas Oil And Diesel Fuel Blend Effects On Engine Components, Lubricating Oil And Carbon Deposit

Abstract

A Depletion Of Fossil Fuel Source And Fluctuating Fuel Price Led Researchers To Focus On Developing New Agro-Based Alternative Fuels, Which Will Provide Sustainable Solution To The Energy Crisis. The Trend Of Using Vegetable Oil As An Alternative Fuel For Diesel Engine Dated Late 20th Century But Until Now A Research Is Continued Due To Its Benefit. Straight Vegetable Oils Could Be Used Directly But They Need Modification In Order To Minimize Their Effect On The Engine Life. Presently, Bio-Diesels, Which Are Obtained From Trans-Esterification Of Straight Vegetable Oil (Svo), Are Being Used Along With Diesel In Blends. The Advantages Of Biodiesels And Vegetable Oils Are Renewability, Biodegradability And They Are Oxygenated. Although Many Researches Pointed Out That It Might Help To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Promote Sustainable Rural Development, And Improve Income Distribution, There Are Still Some Resistances Exist For Using Them. Experiment Evaluation Of The Use Of Several Vegetable Oils As Potential Fuel Sources Is Giving A Promising Result. Initial Engine Performance Tests Using Vegetable Oils Were Found To Be Acceptable, While Noting That The Use Of These Oils Caused Carbon Build Up In The Combustion Chamber And Some Engine Hard Ware Wearing. Jatropha Is One Of The Promising Vegetable Oil. So This Paper Focuses On The Study Of The Effect Of Jatropha Straight Vegetable Oil When It Is Used As A Fuel For Diesel Engine By Blending It With Diesel Fuel. The Objectives Of This Thesis Work Was To Characterize The Fuel And Engine Lubricating Oil After The Test Conducted And The Carbon Deposit Formation And Engine Component Wearing Measured. And Its Scope Was On Diesel Engine Fuel From Preparing A Blend Of Jatropha Straight Vegetable Oil With Diesel Fuel And Run An Engine Test So That Finally Measure And Quantifying The Effects Of The Fuel Blend. The Methodology Of The Study Starts From Careful Identification Of The Methods Which Has Been Used To Blend Fuels With Alternative Fuels And After Preparing The Experimental Set Up. After The Blending The Test On Diesel Engine Runs For 75 Hours. After The Test Or The Experiment Has Been Executed Measuring The Effects Of The Blended Fuel On Engine Components And Engine Lubricating Oil Has Been Measured And Finally The Effects Due To The Blend Fuel Has Been Compared To The Straight Vegetable Oil And Diesel Fuel. In This Thesis Work A Test Has Conducted Using Jatropha Curcas Oil And Diesel Fuel Blend With A Proportion Of 20/80% And Using A Single Cylinder Direct Injection Diesel Engine (Dy-23 Engine). The Physio-Chemical Properties Of The Fuel And The Lubricant Property After The Engine Runs For 75 Hours Has Been Characterized. Wear Of The Engine Parts And The Carbon Deposit Formed Are Measured And Reported. Finally Around 7.74g Of Carbon Deposit Has Been Found Which Is Less Than That Of Straight Vegetable Oil Which Is Above 13.54g Of Carbon Deposit Is Formed. Promising Result Has Been Obtained To Use Jatropha Curcas Oil By Blending Up To 20% And It Is Recommended That Preheating The Fuel Would Be Great To Minimize The Unwanted Effects On The Engine Life.