An experimental assessment on the impact of injection pressure on the characteristics of a diesel engine powered with the blend of diesel and microalgae biodiesel

Abstract

Microalgae was recognized as the sustainable energy feedstock for producing biofuels. Now bio-diesel produced from algal biomass is getting ready to address the energy crisis that the world would face tomorrow. This paper deals with the utilization of microalgae biodiesel at 30% blend, to investigate the influence of operating parameter such as injection pressure on the characteristics of a compression ignition engine. Microalgae crude oil was derived from chlorella vulgaries and it was converted into microalgae methyl ester (MME) using transesterification process. The desired test fuel was prepared by mixing of 30% MME with 70% pure diesel and designated as B30. The experiment was conducted on single cylinder four stroke diesel engine powered with B30 at various fuel injection pressures in the range of 180 bar, 200 bar and 220 bar. The experimental results showed that, no significant impact of modified injection pressures on BSFC, whereas BTE was increased maximum by 14.09% at 200 bar. The exhaust emissions such as CO, CO2, UHC and smoke opacity were improved mostly at 200 bar injection pressure, but NOX emission was increased, and increment in cylinder peak pressure was discovered only at 200 bar.