Fuel characterization and performance parameters analysis of diesel engine using blends of palm biodiesel and tyre pyrolysis oil

Abstract

An avalanche consumption of fossil fuels has paved the way for the use of biodiesel as the alternative fuel especially in the automotive sector. In the present study, an experimental investigation was made on the potential use of palm biodiesel (PB) and tyre pyrolysis oil (TPO) as the substitute of the conventional petroleum fuels. The results show that the brake thermal efficiency at lower loads of both the fuels, i.e., PB90TPO10 and PB80TPO20, is almost equal, but at the higher loads blend having higher TPO content (PB80TPO20) results in improved brake thermal efficiency. From the brake specific consumption data, it can be concluded that higher TPO content signifies prompt and better combustion of fuel resulting in lower fuel consumption per unit power spent. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of the blends has been conducted to provide an insight structural view of the blends via depicting the functional groups at different spectral peaks. So the present study demonstrates that the performance parameters and the physical properties of the fuel blends are in close confirmation with the conventional diesel and may be considered for future investigations.