Title: Effect of hydrogen enriched air on the performance and emissions of mahua oil fuelled diesel engine

Authors: G. Sankaranarayanan; M. Pugazhvadivu

Addresses: Mechanical Engineering Department, Adhiparasakthi Engineering College, Melmaruvathur, Kancheepuram – 603 319, Tamilnadu, India. ' Mechanical Engineering Department, Pondicherry Engineering College, Puducherry – 605 014, India

Abstract: Neat vegetable oils as fuels for diesel engines give rise to engine performance and durability problems due to the differences in some of the properties between vegetable oils and diesel. The objective of the present work was to improve the performance of mahua oil fuelled diesel engine using hydrogen enriched air. Mahua oil was used as the main fuel in a direct injection diesel engine and hydrogen enriched air was supplied at different flow rates through a gas carburetor. The performance and emission parameters of the dual fuel engine were studied at different loads and compared with corresponding base line diesel and mahua oil fuelled operating conditions. Mahua oil combustion with varying quantities of hydrogen (10 lpm, 20 lpm, 30 lpm, 40 lpm and 50 lpm) enriched air resulted in improvement in brake thermal efficiency and reduction in smoke density. The maximum thermal efficiency was recorded at 40 lpm hydrogen enrichment. Hydrogen enrichment was found to increase the combustion rate of mahua oil. The NOX concentration was higher for mahua oil operation with hydrogen enrichment; but lower than diesel.

Keywords: mahua oil; hydrogen enriched air; dual fuel engines; engine performance; engine emissions; direct injection diesel engines; alternative fuel; neat vegetable oils; gas carburetors; brake thermal efficiency; smoke density; hydrogen enrichment; combustion rate; NOX emissions; vehicle braking; renewable energy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRET.2012.043914

International Journal of Renewable Energy Technology, 2012 Vol.3 No.1, pp.94 - 106

Received: 27 Apr 2010
Accepted: 15 Dec 2010

Published online: 29 Oct 2014 *

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