Effect of rubber seed oil biodiesel on engine performance and emission analysis

Application of biodiesel prepared from rubber seed oil using calcined eggshells in a diesel engine is the main novelty of present work. In this study, the performance and emission analysis of biodiesel prepared at optimum process conditions of 12:1 methanol: oil molar ratio, 4 (wt. %) of catalyst concentration and 3 h of reaction time is tested in a diesel engine for three different blends namely B10, B20 and B30 respectively. A gradual increase in brake thermal efficiency and a slight decrease in brake specific fuel consumption with increase in brake mean effective pressure for all blends was observed. The minimum brake specific fuel consumption is observed as 0.3895 (kg/kWh) for B10 blend which is almost near to the value obtained from conventional diesel 0.38 (kg/ kWh). The maximum brake thermal efficiency was observed as 73.26 (%) for B10 blend when compared with conventional diesel of value 75.8 (%). A decrease in carbon monoxide (0.0275% for B30 blend) as well as hydrocarbons (36 ppm for B10 blend) and a gradual increase in nitrogen oxide (275 ppm for B30 blend), as well as carbon-di-oxide (1.9% for B30 blend) were also observed with increase in brake mean effective pressure of every blend. From the observed results it is justified that the synthesized biodiesel (prepared from rubber seed oil) is a feasible substitute to conventional diesel.

Automated summary

The biodiesel prepared from rubber seed oil using calcined eggshells showed promising performance in a diesel engine, with lower emissions compared to conventional diesel.