Validation of some engine combustion and emission parameters of a bioethanol fuelled DI diesel engine using theoretical modelling

Earlier reports indicate that ethanol/bioethanol can replace conventional diesel fuel by 15%, when it is emulsified with diesel and used as an alternative fuel in a compression ignition (CI) engine. In this study, initially BMDE15, a bioethanol emulsion containing 15% bioethanol, 84% diesel and 1% surfactant was characterised for its fuel properties and compared with those of diesel fuel properties. The numerical value indicates the percentage of bioethanol in the BMDE15 emulsion. For the investigation, bioethanol was obtained from the Mahua Indica flower which was collected from the Madhuca Indica tree, and it was produced from fermentation process using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Further, the BMDE15 emulsion was tested in a single cylinder, four stroke, air cooled, DI diesel engine developing a power of 4.4 kW at a rated speed of 1500 rpm. Two important combustion parameters: cylinder pressure and ignition delay, and two important emission parameters: nitric oxide (NO) and smoke emissions were determined and compared with those of diesel operation at all loads. The experimental results were validated using mathematical modelling, and the analysis of the results is presented in this paper.