Testing and Evaluation of Performance and Emissions Characteristics of Water-Biodiesel Aspirated Research Engine

This work aims to investigate the effect of the addition of water to corn oil biodiesel (BD) (COBD) in a diesel engine to view its effect on performance and emission characteristics. Two fuel samples were prepared using a novel surfactant Span 80 (MilliporeSigma, Burlington, MA), with different concentrations (94 % corn oil +4 % water + 2 % Span 80 (COBDE1) and 90 % corn oil + 8 % water + 2 % Span 80 (COBDE2)). Experimental results showed that the water samples of COBD had higher brake thermal efficiency and lower brake-specific fuel consumption than that of neat COBD at all engine brake power. In addition, smoke and nitrogen oxide emissions are reduced by 4-11 % and 6-10 % using corn oil-water samples compared to neat COBD. Furthermore, the introduction of COBD-water emulsions in a diesel engine reduces the unburned hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions considerably.