Title: Comparative studies of a bioethanol fuelled DI diesel engine with a cetane improver

Authors: Dulari Hansdah; S. Murugan

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, 769008, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, 769008, India

Abstract: Flowers of madhuca indica tree are found to be a potential source for bioethanol production. The present work is aimed to study the effect of diethyl ether (DEE) as a cetane improver on engine behaviour when the DEE is added to bioethanol diesel emulsion in little quantities and used as fuels. 1% and 2% of DEE were added on a volume basis to BDE15 (bioethanol-diesel emulsion up to 15%) and named as BDED1% and BDED2% respectively. The combustion, performance and emission results were compared with those of diesel operation. The results showed that the bioethanol diesel emulsion operation, with and without the cetane improver, showed a higher brake specific energy consumption and exhaust gas temperature than that of diesel operation at maximum brake power. There was a simultaneous reduction of brake specific nitric oxide (BSNO) and smoke emission with the addition of cetane improver in bioethanol diesel emulsion. [Received: February 4 2014; Accepted: September 20 2014]

Keywords: diesel engines; madhuca indica flowers; bioethanol diesel emulsion; DEE; diethyl ether; biofuels; cetane improver; combustion; performance evaluation; engine emissions; brake specific energy consumption; exhaust gas temperature; brake power; nitric oxide emissions; smoke emissions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2016.075088

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2016 Vol.11 No.4, pp.429 - 450

Received: 10 Feb 2014
Accepted: 20 Sep 2014
Published online: 03 Mar 2016 *

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