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Effects of n-Butanol Blending with Jatropha Methyl Esters on Compression Ignition Engine

  • Research Article - Mechanical Engineering
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Abstract

The diminishing oil reserves, environmental degradation and increasing prices of petroleum-derived fuels have necessitated the search for cleaner and renewable alternative fuels, such as biodiesel. In this context, the objective of this research is to evaluate the suitability of n-butanol as a blending stock in jatropha methyl ester (JME) for use in a C.I. engine as substitute of diesel and to evaluate the performance and emission characteristics of an unmodified diesel engine. Three blends of n-butanol–JME (5, 10 and 20 % n-butanol with JME on volumetric basis) were prepared. Fuel properties including calorific value, kinematic viscosity and density of blends were found to decrease with increasing percentage of n-butanol in JME. The brake thermal efficiency of the engine was higher for blends and was found to increase by increasing the percentage of n-butanol in the blends. Carbon monoxide (CO), the oxides of nitrogen (NO X ) and smoke opacity of blends were found lower than JME during the whole experimental range. However, unburnt hydrocarbon (HC) emission was found to have slightly increased. The experimental results suggested that the engine performance had improved and emissions have significantly reduced (except HC) with blends of n-butanol and JME in comparison with neat JME. Therefore, it could be concluded that n-butanol is a potential alternative fuel to be blended with JME for diesel engine application.

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Abbreviations

ASTM:

American Society for Testing and Materials

°C:

Degree centigrade

cc:

Cubic centimeter

CI:

Compression ignition

CFPP:

Cold filter plugging point

cSt:

Centi-stoke

JME:

Jatropha methyl ester

95JME 5B:

95 % Jatropha methyl ester +  5 % butanol

90JME 10B:

90 % Jatropha methyl ester +  10 % butanol

80JME 20B:

80 % Jatropha methyl ester +  20 % butanol

BTE:

Brake thermal efficiency

BMEP:

Brake mean effective pressure

BSEC:

Brake-specific energy consumption

BSFC:

Brake-specific fuel consumption

CO:

Carbon monoxide carbon

CO2 :

Carbon dioxide

DI:

Direct injection

D100:

Neat diesel

MJ/kg:

Mega joule per kilogram

mm:

Millimeter

mteo:

Million tones oil equivalent

NO X :

Nitrogen oxide

rpm:

Revolutions per minute

HC:

Unburnt hydrocarbons

wt.:

Weight

ppm:

Parts per million

MJ/kwh:

Mega joule per watt-hour

KJ/Kg:

Kilojoule per kilogram

%:

Percentage

RSM:

Response surface methodology

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CASRAE, Delhi Technological University, Delhi, 110042, India

    Naveen Kumar

  2. NIET, Greater Noida, UP, 201306, India

    Harveer Singh Pali

Authors
  1. Naveen Kumar
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  2. Harveer Singh Pali
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Correspondence to Naveen Kumar.

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Kumar, N., Pali, H.S. Effects of n-Butanol Blending with Jatropha Methyl Esters on Compression Ignition Engine. Arab J Sci Eng 41, 4327–4336 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-016-2127-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-016-2127-1

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