Performance and Emission Characteristics of Diesel Engine Operating on Biodiesel and Biodiesel Blended with Methanol and Propanol

Abstract

In this study, fuel properties, performance and emission characteristics of sunflower biodiesel and its blends with diesel fuel and alcohols has been evaluated. Blend ratios used in this study were diesel-biodiesel-methanol (50-30-20% by volume) and diesel-biodiesel-propanol (50-30-20% by volume). Experiments showed that alcohol blends improved the NO_x emissions increased as 45.44%, 16.75% and 10.09% in relation to conventional diesel for B100, B30M20 and B30P20, respectively which indicates alcohol blends improved the NOx emissions but increased the CO emissions at the rate of 106,1% and 38,88%, respectively. Consequently, propanol is more effective as additive than methanol and might be a feasible additive for biodiesel improvement in terms of contributing to NO_x emissions.

Keywords: Biodiesel, Diesel, Methanol, Propanol, Emission