Influence of Biodiesel Addition to Fischer-Tropsch Fuel on Diesel Engine Performance and Exhaust Emissions

This paper reports on the influence of jatropha biodiesel (JBD) addition to Fischer-Tropsch (FT) fuel on diesel engine performance and exhaust emissions. JBD was produced from Jatropha Carcus oil and blended with FT fuel in volumetric ratios of 0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and 100:0. The different JBD blends were termed as B0, B25, B50, B75, and B100. A six-cylinder, four-stroke, turbocharged, direct injection (DI) diesel engine was used in the experiments. The experimental results showed that without deteriorating engine performance, FT fuel produced less CO, THC, NOx, smoke, and PM emissions compared to diesel fuel (DF). The reduction in emissions was mainly due to extremely low amounts of or an absence of sulfur and aromatic compounds in FT fuel. Compared to FT fuel, JBD blends (B25, B50, B75, and B100) resulted in lower CO, THC, smoke, and PM emissions with higher NOx emissions. However, the engine thermal efficiency was slightly lower with higher JBD blends. On the basis of the engine performance and emission results, lower JBD blend, B25 for instance, may be one of the competitors for an environmentally friendly future alternative fuel.