Performance, emission and combustion evaluation of soapnut oil–diesel blends in a compression ignition engine

Soapnut (Sapindus mukorossi) oil, a nonedible straight vegetable oil was blended with petroleum diesel in various proportions to evaluate the performance and emission characteristics of a single cylinder direct injection constant speed diesel engine. Diesel and soapnut oil (10%, 20%, 30% and 40%) fuel blends were used to conduct short-term engine performance and emission tests at varying loads in terms of 25% load increments from no load to full loads. Tests were carried out for engine operation and engine performance parameters such as fuel consumption, brake thermal efficiency, and exhaust emissions (smoke, CO, UBHC, NOx, and O2) were recorded. Among the blends SNO 10 has shown a better performance with respect to BTE and BSEC. All blends have shown higher HC emissions after about 75% load. SNO 10 and SNO 20 showed lower CO emissions at full load. NOx emission for all blends was lower and SNO 40 blend achieved a 35% reduction in NOx emission. SNO 10% has an overall better performance with regards to both engine performance and emission characteristics.

► Feasibility of usage of soapnut oil blends with diesel as a fuel in C.I. Engine tested.
► 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% blends tested for performance evaluation, emission testing and combustion analysis.
► Performance of soapnut oil blends found to be comparable to diesel fuel operation of C.I. Engine.
► 10% blend comes closer to the performance of fossil diesel.
► 40%blend has lowest Nox emission.