Comparative study of various biofuel combinations derived from agricultural residues on the performance and emissions of CI engine

Abstract

In this present work, performance and emission levels have been investigated using renewable and sustainable fuels derived from different agricultural residues. For the same injected pilot fuel, producer gas operation with redgram stalk (RGS) derived fuel provided improved liquid fuel saving. Downdraft gasifier was integrated with 4 stroke direct injection water cooled 5.2 kW CI engine at 1500 rpm and run under dual fuel mode using diesel/honge oil methyl ester (HOME)-producer gas. Experimental investigation showed that the gasifier-engine system with diesel-RGS derived producer gas dual fuel operation results in 13.05% higher brake thermal efficiency. Diesel-producer gas (RGS) operation showed the 16.1% decreased exhaust gas temperature and the 12.1% higher nitric oxide (NOx) emission compared to HOME based dual fuel operation. NOx emissions for the HOME based engine operation were found to be lower than the diesel based operation; however, the smoke, hydrocarbon, and carbon monoxide emissions were higher. Diesel fuel saving about 56% was achieved by diesel-producer gas (RGS) dual fuel operation and 100% biofuel utilization in HOME-producer gas dual fuel operation. Further, cylinder pressure and heat release rates for HOME-producer gas (RGS) were marginally lesser than the diesel based operation

Keywords

• redgram stalk
• soyabean stalk
• chilli stalk
• gasifier-engine system
• performance
• emissions