Effects of Lemongrass Oil as Fuel in Diesel Engine

Abstract

The rapid increase of diesel engines and diminishing of diesel fuel creates a challenge for researchers to find alternative fuel. The present experiment is performed on a 3.5 kW diesel engine. Here, diesel is replaced with pure lemongrass oil (LGO) of10%, 20%, and 30% by volume with diesel. The obtained data from the experimental work may exhibit the Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE) of LG20 equivalent to pure diesel. The specific fuel consumption (SFC) of LGO blends shows an increase compared to diesel, due to the lower heating value for LGO blends. On the other hand, LGO blends show lower emissions of NOX, due to the lower peak flame temperature. When compared to the other samples, the LG30 gives a maximum reduction in NOX emissions; of 10.33%. When compared to biodiesel blends, diesel fuel shows a significant increase in the Net Heat Release rate (NHR).

Keywords

• lemongrass oil
• performance
• emission
• combustion
• diesel engine
• specific fuel consumption