Experimental Evaluation of Thermal and Combustion Performance of a DI Diesel Engine Using Waste Cooking Oil Methyl Ester and Diesel Fuel Blends

Abstract

Experimental evaluation of combustion and thermal performance of dedicated, direct injection, single cylinder, diesel engine (5.2 kW) using waste cooking oil methyl ester (WCOME) and diesel fuel is investigated. Various blends of WCOME with diesel fuel (i.e., B0, B10 and B20) were prepared to evaluate combustion and thermal performance. Kistler make in-vehicle combustion analyzer was interfaced with test engine for high resolution and precise measurements eliminating the experimental uncertainty. Results are encouraging and useful toward better understanding of vital combustion phenomenon. The trends of combustion and thermal performance parameters including in-cylinder combustion peak pressures and peak of rate of change of pressures up to B20 (WCOME + Diesel fuel) are quite similar to neat diesel operation. Thus, neglecting any possibility of harmful long-term effects on dedicated engine hardware such as engine wear and knocking especially when dedicated engine hardware is using WCOME biodiesel blend having different thermo-physico-chemical properties.