Combustion, performance and emission characteristics of a DI diesel engine fueled with mustard oil biodiesel fuel blends at different engine loads

This study highlights the effects of mustard oil biodiesel fuel blends on combustion, performance and emission characteristics in depth. For this purpose, a single cylinder DI diesel engine was run with mustard oil biodiesel-diesel fuel blends (M10, M20, M30) and standard diesel fuel (D100) at maximum brake torque speed of 2200 rpm and different engine loads of 3.75, 7.5, 11.25, 15 Nm and full load conditions in this study. It was seen that indicated thermal efficiency (ITE) decreased 6.8% with M10 while BSFC increased 4.8% with M10 compared to D100 at full load condition. Moreover, no huge differences were seen on cylinder pressure between mustard oil biodiesel-diesel fuel blends and diesel fuel. Remarkable reductions were seen on CO and smoke emissions with the usage of mustard oil biodiesel-diesel fuel blends compared to diesel. However, NOx emissions increased in case mustard oil biodiesel fuel blends are used. NOx emissions were determined 582 ppm with D100 while increased by about 22.1% and it was obtained 711 ppm with M30 test fuel. The test results also showed that low levels of mustard oil biodiesel-diesel fuel blends seems to be optimum fuel when the engine is operated at part engine loads. As a result, mustard oil biodiesel-diesel fuel blends can be used efficiently in CI engines without modifications.