Experimental Study on CI Engine Performance for Optimum Blending Ratio of Blended Kusum Biodiesel

Abstract

Indian biodiesel policy promotes biodiesel production from nonedible oil in appreciable quantity and can be grown in large scale on non-cropped marginal lands and wastelands. Kusum (Schleichera oleosa) is one such nonedible oil bearing plant which has been used as an ideal feedstock for biodiesel production in the present study. Kusum seed contains 33–40% of oil which is the best source of kusum biodiesel. Kusum oil was extracted using Soxhlet extraction process, and it was converted into biodiesel using transesterification. Different physicochemical properties of Schleichera oleosa were analyzed. It was found that these properties are within range of standards like ASTM D-6751 & IS-15607. Also, experiments have been performed on single cylinder CI engine by varying engine load (0.233–15.32 kg) and biodiesel blends (10, 20, 30% by vol.). Multi-objective optimization was carried out by using response surface methodology. An optimum value of brake thermal efficiency (23.77%) and brake-specific fuel consummation (BSFC 0.291 kg/kWh) with desirability 0.939 at 11.71 kg brake load and 30% blend is predicted. Actual experimental values of brake thermal efficiency and BSFC at this point are 23.8%, 0.32 kg/kWh which are closer to the predicted values.