Thermal and emission performances of Citrus maxima biodiesel blends in CI engine

Abstract

Abstract Over the years, researchers are exploring different non - edible resources for the production of biodiesel. Pomelo seed oil (Citrus maxima) is such an inedible resource for oil. There have not yet been many studies on Pomelo seed oil for biodiesel production and its use in CI engines. This study aims to determine the physical and chemical properties of Pomelo seed oil biodiesel. Besides, the engine and emission performance are compared to normal diesel fuel in different blending ratios. A single cylinder 4\u202fS, 3.7\u202fkW Kirloskar diesel engine was used for experimentation. The engine performance parameters reveal that biodiesel and all its blends have higher brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) than that of diesel. Only B20 has brake specific fuel consumption slightly closer to diesel at high loading. On the other hand, brake power (BP) and brake mean effective pressure (BMEP) varies linearly with increasing load percentages and act more or less in the same way as diesel. The highest exhaust gas temperature (EGT) achieved by diesel fuel is 350\u202f°C followed by B20, B50, and B100 at 320\u202f°C, 348\u202f°C, and 300\u202f°C respectively. Blending improves fuel combustion and reduces carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions while nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions from biodiesel mixtures increase with load.