Title: Characteristics of the performance and emissions of a HSDI diesel engine running with cottonseed oil or its methyl ester and their blends with diesel fuel

Authors: Constantine D. Rakopoulos, Kimon A. Antonopoulos, Dimitrios C. Rakopoulos, Emmanuel C. Kakaras, Efthimios G. Pariotis

Addresses: Laboratory of Internal Combustion Engines, Department of Thermal Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Heroon Polytechniou Street, Zografou Campus, Athens 15780, Greece. ' Laboratory of Internal Combustion Engines, Department of Thermal Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Heroon Polytechniou Street, Zografou Campus, Athens 15780, Greece. ' Laboratory of Internal Combustion Engines, Department of Thermal Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Heroon Polytechniou Street, Zografou Campus, Athens 15780, Greece. ' Laboratory of Internal Combustion Engines, Department of Thermal Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Heroon Polytechniou Street, Zografou Campus, Athens 15780, Greece. ' Laboratory of Internal Combustion Engines, Department of Thermal Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Heroon Polytechniou Street, Zografou Campus, Athens 15780, Greece

Abstract: An experimental study has been conducted to evaluate the use of various blends of cottonseed oil or its methyl ester (bio-diesel) with diesel fuel, in blend ratios from 10/90 up to 100/0, in a fully instrumented, four-stroke, High Speed Direct Injection (HSDI), Ricardo/Cussons |Hydra| diesel engine. The tests were conducted using each of the above fuel blends or neat fuels, with the engine working at a medium and a high load. Volumetric fuel consumption, exhaust smokiness and exhaust-regulated gas emissions such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and unburnt hydrocarbons were measured. The differences in the performance and exhaust emissions from the baseline operation of the engine, that is, when working with neat diesel fuel, were determined and compared, as well as the differences between cottonseed oil or its methyl ester and their blends. Theoretical aspects of diesel engine combustion were used to aid the correct interpretation of the engine behaviour.

Keywords: HSDI diesel engines; diesel fuel blends; cottonseed oil; cottonseed methyl ester; biodiesel; engine performance; emissions; biofuels; bioenergy; high speed direct injection engines; fuel consumption; exhaust smokiness; gas emissions; combustion; vehicle design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2007.013677

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2007 Vol.45 No.1/2, pp.200 - 221

Published online: 11 May 2007 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article