Performance and soot emissions from direct injection diesel engine fueled by diesel-jatropha-butanol-blended diesel fuel

Abstract

Jatropha renewable energy is widely used as diesel engine fuel due to the improving dependence on fossil diesel fuel and the volume of motor vehicles. Jatropha was chosen because it is non-edible energy and it is easily produced. However, high viscosity and low heating value become performance and emissions of diesel engine problems. Butanol is a low viscosity alcohol group and it contains oxygen in high volume. The addition of butanol is proven to improve performance and to reduce diesel engine emissions. This research observed the performance and soot emissions of a 4JB1 direct injection diesel engine fueled with a blended of diesel-jatropha-butanol fuel. The test was operated at 2500 rpm with a loading rate of 0 to 100% at an interval of 25%. The volume of the biodiesel mixture are 85/10/5, 80/10/10, 75/10/15, 75/20/5, 70/20/10, 65/20/15, 65/30/5, 60/30/10, 55/30/15 based on volume. Test result showed the use of fuel with jatropha which is contains 10% and 15% butanol having results in a higher performance increase and lower smoke opacity than the pure diesel fuel.