M.J. Abedin

Production, characterization, engine performance and emission characteristics of Croton megalocarpus and Ceiba pentandra complementary blends in a single-cylinder diesel engine

Compounding energy demand and environmental issues necessitate suitable alternative or partial replacement of fossil fuels. Among the possible sources, biodiesel from non-edible vegetable oil sources is more economically feasible and possesses characteristics close to those of petroleum diesel. Two potential non-edible biodiesel feedstocks “Croton megalocarpus” and “Ceiba pentandra” were used for biodiesel production through esterification and transesterification process on a laboratory scale. Biodiesel characterization, engine performance and emission characteristics were investigated in an unmodified direct injection, naturally aspirated, single-cylinder diesel engine. 20% (v/v) of each of C. megalocarpus (CM), C. pentandra (CP) and their combined blends (CMB20, CPB20, CMB15CPB05, CMB10CPB10, and CMB05CPB15) were tested under varying engine speeds ranging from 1000 rpm to 2400 rpm at full load conditions. CMB20 and CPB20 reduced the brake power (BP) by 2.63% and 3.70%, brake thermal efficiency (BTE) by 5.97% and 3.72%, carbon monoxide (CO) emission by 1.09% and 2.39%, hydrocarbon (HC) emission by 1.48% and 4.62% and smoke emission by 12.35% and 17.13%, respectively compared to petroleum diesel. On the other hand, CMB20 and CPB20 increased the brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) by 9.74% and 7.63%, NOX emission by 13.19% and 15.45%, respectively. A mixture of 10% of both biodiesels with diesels (CMB10CPB10) provides better performance and emission characteristics. CMB10CPB10 reduced BP, BTE, CO, HC and smoke by 0.53%, 0.50%, 5.21%, 8.38% and 20.71%, respectively and increased BSFC and NOX by 3.90% and 18.66%, respectively compared to conventional diesel. A combined blend of CM and CP could be a sustainable substitute for fossil diesel in the context of performance and emission.

Thermal Balancing of a Multi-Cylinder Diesel Engine Operating on Diesel, B5 and Palm Biodiesel Blends

Energy crisis and global warming are the two most important issues that threaten the peaceful existence of the human species. More dependency on alternative fuels and energy loss minimization can be an effective solution to this affair. In this regard, thermal balance study of an internal combustion (IC) engine using different biodiesels is worthy of investigation. This manuscript provides an in-depth analysis of the engine heat losses in different subsystems of the engine. Finally, thermal balancing of the engine has been done by showing all energy flows in and out of the engine. The investigation was conducted in a four cylinder diesel engine fuelled with pure diesel, B5 (5% Palm biodiesel + 95% Diesel), 10% (PB10) and 20% (PB20) palm biodiesel blends at full load and in the speed range 1000 to 4000 RPM. The water heat loss and lubricating oil heat loss increased whereas the engine brake power, exhaust heat loss and unaccounted heat loss decreased with the increase of biodiesel percentage in the blends.

Experimental Investigation of a Multicylinder Unmodified Diesel Engine Performance, Emission, and Heat Loss Characteristics Using Different Biodiesel Blends: Rollout of B10 in Malaysia

This paper deals with the performance and emission analysis of a multicylinder diesel engine using biodiesel along with an in-depth analysis of the engine heat losses in different subsystems followed by the energy balance of all the energy flows from the engine. Energy balance analysis allows the designer to appraise the internal energy variations of a thermodynamic system as a function of ‘‘energy flows” across the control volume as work or heat and also the enthalpies associated with the energy flows which are passing through these boundaries. Palm and coconut are the two most potential biodiesel feed stocks in this part of the world. The investigation was conducted in a four-cylinder diesel engine fuelled with 10% and 20% blends of palm and coconut biodiesels and compared with B5 at full load condition and in the speed range of 1000 to 4000 RPM. Among the all tested blends, palm blends seemed more promising in terms of engine performance, emission, and heat losses. The influence of heat losses on engine performance and emission has been discussed thoroughly in this paper.

Assessing Effects of Idling of a Diesel Engine Operated with Optimized Blend of Palm and Mustard Biodiesel

Palm is an edible feedstock which is immensely popular in Malaysia as an alternative fuel which can substitute diesel fuel. However, use of Palm biodiesel in diesel engine have a negative effect on food security, thus, in this study authors used Mustard biodiesel, which has poor fuel properties, with Palm biodiesel to produce an optimum blend. This blend will have better fuel properties compared to Mustard biodiesel and will help eliminate dependency of Palm biodiesel. To ensure that optimized blend achieves better fuel properties MATLAB optimization tool was used to find out the optimum blend ratio. Linear relationship among the fuel properties was considered for MATLAB coding. The resultant optimum blend is represented by PM. Optimum blend revealed improved fuel properties compared to mustard biodiesel. Fuel consumption and exhaust emission of diesel engine operated by the produced optimized blend blends at high idling conditions with and without a turbocharger installed, were evaluated. Optimized blend achieved lower CO, HC and NO X emission compared to Mustard biodiesel blends and also improved fuel consumption at idling conditions. When the engine was turbocharged it further decreased CO, HC and fuel consumption, but significantly increased NO X emission.