Performance study of a diesel engine by first generation bio-fuel blends with fossil fuel: An experimental study

In this study, the performance of a direct injection diesel engine was investigated experimentally using 1st generation bio-fuel blends with fossil fuel like kerosene. The 1st generation bio-fuel (mustard oil) has been produced without trans-esterification reaction and blended with kerosene oil by volume in approximate percentages which have been named as M20, M30, M40, and M50. The properties of the bio-fuel blends were investigated by meeting the requirements of different ASTM standards. The variation trends of bio-fuel properties with temperature were investigated and compared with each other. Then a test engine (four stroke, single cylinder) mounted on a hydraulic dynamometer bed for testing several engine parameters like break specific fuel consumption, break house power, break mean effective pressure, exhaust gas temperature, lube oil temperature, sound level, etc. A comprehensive study were made for engine performance of different bio-diesel blends with kerosene and the engine performance of diesel fuel. The total cost per unit production of the bio-fuel blends and its economic impact has also been discussed in this paper. (C) 2013 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4790822]