Performance and evaluation of DI diesel engine by using preheated cottonseed oil methyl ester

In this investigation, the Cotton Seed Oil Methyl Ester (CSOME) was prepared by transesterification using cotton seed oil, methyl alcohol and potassium hydroxide (KOH) as a catalyst. At different preheated temperatures, the performance and exhaust emissions of a diesel engine fuelled with preheated CSOME were obtained and compared with neat diesel. Experiments were conducted at different load conditions in a single cylinder four stroke DI diesel engine. CSOME was preheated to temperatures namely 40, 60, 80, 100 degrees C before it was fuelled to the engine. From the test the brake thermal efficiency (BTE), brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC), smoke density, CO, HC, NOx emissions were evaluated. The results proved that the preheated CSOME leads favourable on BTE and CO, HC emissions when it is heated up to 80 degrees C. At the same time the NOx emission was increased. But at preheated temperature of 100 degrees C, a considerable decrease in the BTE and BSFC were observed due to the vapour locking in the fuel line caused by vapour formation due to higher temperature of CSOME. On the whole the results shows that CSOME preheated up to 80 degrees C can be used as an alternate fuel for diesel fuel without any significant modification in expense of increased NOx emissions. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of Noorul Islam Centre for Higher Education