Performance and Emission Studies of a Diesel Engine Fuelled with Different Jatropha Biodiesel Blends

Abstract

The ever increasing number of automobiles has led to increasing in demand for petroleum fuels.
The environment degradation and depletion of fossil fuels are another reason to search the
replacement of this fossil fuel. Biodiesel can become an attractive choice because it is renewable,
non-toxic, environmental friendly. The objective of the present research work is to investigate
the use of Jatropha biodiesel (JB) and fuel derived from pyrolysis of waste tires (WTDL) in
diesel engine as a replacement of diesel in certain amount. The JB and WTDL were blended
with diesel (5, 10, 15 and 20% by volume) and experiments have been conducted in a single
cylinder, four stroke, air cooled diesel engine. The brake thermal efficiency of the blend was
found to be lower than diesel. However, hydrocarbon emission and smoke opacity were found to
be lower with blend (up to 10%) than diesel operation. The nitric oxide emissions of blend were
higher than diesel. In view of comparable engine performance and reduction in most of the
engine emissions, it can be concluded that blend which contained 10% JB, 10% WTDL and 80%
diesel can be be used as a potential fuel for diesel engine operation without any engine
modification.