Experimental evaluation of Salvinia molesta oil biodiesel/diesel blends fuel on combustion, performance and emission analysis of diesel engine

In this work, biodiesel produced from an aquatic weed, Salvinia molesta in the blended form was tested as fuel in single cylinder diesel engine. The properties of S. molesta biodiesel and its blends were measured and compared with diesel. A water-cooled single cylinder diesel engine coupled with eddy current dynamometer was used for experimental work. The S. molesta biodiesel blended with diesel as B10, B20 and B30 on volume basis were used as fuel for conducting the combustion, performance and emission analysis of diesel engine and compared with that of pure diesel operation. The combustion parameters showed maximum reduction in peak pressure and HRR as 1.89% and 6.79%, respectively for B20 as compared to diesel. The performance analysis showed a brake thermal efficiency of 29.51% and minimum BSFC of 0.3081 kg/kWh with B20. The emissions showed maximum reduction of CO, CO2, UBHC, NO, smoke as 14%, 3.38% and 20.83%, 12.86%, 10.99%, respectively with B20 as compared to diesel. Thus, B20 can be used as an alternate fuel for diesel engines.

Automated summary

Experimental results show that using Salvinia molesta biodiesel blend as fuel in diesel engines can significantly reduce peak pressure and heat release rate, as well as improve performance and reduce emissions, with B20 blend performing the best.