Influence of injection timing on the performance, emissions, combustion analysis and sound characteristics of Nerium biodiesel operated single cylinder four stroke cycle direct injection diesel engine

S. Prabhakar, V.N. Banugopan, K. Annamalai, G. Devaradjane, S. Jayaraj and P. Sentilkumar

Department of Automobile Engg, MIT Campus, Anna University, Chennai (India).

Received on April 15, 2010 and accepted on May 24, 2010

ABSTRACT

The automobile sector which is growing day to day consumes the fossil fuel more than its growth. So there is a demand for exploring new sources of fuels for existing engines. This led to the growth in bio diesels which is an alternate fuel. An alternative fuel must be technically feasible, economically competitive, environmentally acceptable, and readily available. In this project esterified Nerium oil is used as an alternate fuel. A single cylinder stationary kirloskar engine is used to compare the performance and emission characteristics between pure diesel and Nerium blends. In this project selection of suitable nerium blend and selection of optimized injection timing for the blend is done. The Nerium oil blends are in percentage of 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of Nerium oil to 80%, 60%, 40%, 20% & 0% of diesel. From this project it is concluded that among all nerium and diesel blends 20% of nerium and 80% of diesel blend at 30º BTDC gives better performance nearing the diesel. When comparing the emission characteristics HC, CO is reduced when compared to diesel, however NOx emission is slightly increased when compared to diesel. Hence Nerium blend can be used in existing diesel engines with minimum modification in the engine. It also describes the usage of non-edible oil to a greater extent.

Keywords : Nerium, Injection timings, Esterification.