Performance and emission characteristics of a diesel engine fueled by an optimum biodiesel–biodiesel blend

Abstract

Biodiesel can be an effective renewable transportation fuel despite some limitations in properties. An experiment was conducted to improve the fuel properties of palm oil derived biodiesel by blending it with coconut oil and jatropha oil derived biodiesel. The MATLAB optimization tool was used to find the optimum blend ratio to achieve overall better fuel properties. The linear relationship among the fuel properties of these three oils was considered for MATLAB coding. The resultant optimum blend ratio and the equations of the MATLAB code were used to predict the fuel property values and compared with the experimental values of the optimum blends of fuel properties. A new biodiesel blend was developed which was an optimum blend of jatropha, palm and coconut biodiesel that demonstrated overall improved fuel properties compared to the individual biodiesels present in the blends. Engine performance and emissions were tested using a 20% blend of each of the biodiesels (jatropha, palm, coconut and the optimized biodiesel) with petroleum diesel. The blend of 20% optimized biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel showed the highest engine power at full load conditions. The emission characteristics of the optimized blend are also very much comparable and lower than petroleum diesel except hydrocarbons. However, when engine performance and emissions were considered together, the optimized blend was found to be the best fuel compared to other fuel blends including petroleum diesel.