Experimental Investigation of the Performance and Emission Parameters of Stationary CI Engine Using Methyl Esters of Karanja and Fumigated Ethanol

Abstract

The scarce and rapidly depleting conventional petroleum resources have alarmed the researchers around the globe, for the search of the alternate fuel, which not only possess the advantage of availability in abundance but also check the menace of environmental degradation and climate change, to a considerable extent. Among various possible options, bio-diesel and alcohols, especially lower alcohols not only reduce diesel fuel requirements and environmental pollution but strengthen agricultural economy and provide rural employment. Methyl esters of vegetable oils, which possesses improved properties viz., reduced viscosity and free fatty acid content, mitigate exhaust emissions and offers to strengthen India's energy security and lessen reliance on oil imports. Lower alcohol, such as ethanol is also a renewable fuel and can be obtained from perennial sources viz., plants and live-stocks and thus help to achieve energy security and sustainability. Among the most common techniques for using alcohol in dual fuel mode, fumigation is the simplest and inexpensive as it requires no modification in the engine. In the present research, performance and emission characteristics of single cylinder, four stroke, constant speed, water cooled, direct injection CI engine using methyl esters of Karanja and ethanol fumigation are investigated.