Exhaust Gas Analysis and Parametric Study ofCotton seedBiodiesel in Diesel Vehicl

Abstract

Due to the fast depletion of world petroleum reserves with ever raising demand for diesel in transport, power and agricultural sectors and environmental pollution with increasing exhaust emissions, there is a need for identifying a suitable alternative fuels for use in diesel engines. Currently, alternative fuels are being investigated in detail for application in compression ignition (CI) engines resulting in exciting potential opportunities to increase energy security and reduce gas emissions. Biodiesel is one of the alternative fuels which is renewable and environmentally friendly and can be used in diesel engines with little or no modifications. The present work investigates the impact of biodiesel blend on vehicle performance with four stroke four cylinder diesel engine. Emission test was performed on six cylinder engine vehicle using 100% diesel of petroleum origin (fossil diesel), and B10, B20, B30 of cottonseed oil methyl ester. For the accomplishment of this work an assessment was made by conducting experiments using a chassis dynamometer & exhaust gas analyzer. The vehicle was initially run on diesel to establish their characteristics before running on biodiesel blends. Analysis was carried out on major performance parameters Pb, Tb,bsfc & emissions such as NOx, CO, CO2, O2 and HC. It is observed that blends of biodiesel B10, B20 & B30 reduced brake torque by 5%, 7% & 12%, also reduced brake power by 6%, 8% & 11% and increased in fuel consumption by 4%, 8% & 20 % respectively. However, the emissions of the CI engine running on three biodiesel blends were reduced,CO by up to 16%,CO2 by 17% and HC by 12%& increase NOx by 14% & O2 by 18% as compared to diesel fuel. The study concluded that cotton seed biodiesel blends containing up to 20% biodiesel can be used in an unmodified diesel engine since their performance and emission characteristics were closer to that of diesel and with reduced toxic gas emissions therefore friendly to the environment.