Performance and emissions characteristics of a variable compression ratio engine operated on dual fuel mode using diesel and biodiesel with additives

Abstract

The world today is mainly dependent upon non renewable fuel sources for power generation. This research work focus on the impact of additives for biodiesel, to reduce the emissions and retrieve the performance. The fuel additives play a vital role in decreasing the limitation of biodiesel, would be considered to decrease the emissions, improve combustion and fuel economy. Experiment are operated on single-cylinder, four-stroke, variable compression ratio and compression ignition engine. Tests are conducted with diesel, biodiesel, diethyl ether mixed with biodiesel and toluene mixed with biodiesel, and also at various percentages (1%, 2.5% and 5.0%) of additives by volume. The performance and emissions data's are obtained from experimentation were studied and a detailed analysis was carried out for each of the blends by comparing with diesel and biodiesel blend B20. The diethyl ether and toluene additives blends showed a simultaneous decrease in CO, CO2, HC and NOx. These additives were improved at higher engine brake power, lower specific fuel consumption and higher brake thermal efficiency than biodiesel blend B20. The result reveals that the 5% of DEE-biodiesel blend and 5% of toluene-biodiesel blend is the most effective combination with biodiesel.