Determination of Engine Performance and Emission with Neem Oil (NOME) Based Bio-Diesel

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the production of biodiesel from neem oil with a view to determine its performance in Internal Combustion engine (I.C. engine). The physicochemical properties of the biodiesel produced were also studied. The world is getting modernized and industrialized day by day. As a result vehicles and engines are increasing. But energy sources used in these engines are limited and decreasing gradually. This condition necessitates the use of biodiesel as an alternate fuel for diesel engines. Biodiesel is a non-toxic, biodegradable, and renewable alternative fuel that may be used in diesel engines with very minor changes. Biodiesel could be produced from low-cost Neem seed oils. Biodiesel performance and testing is done in C.I. engine. Neem oil was extracted from neem seed by solvent extraction. Refractive index, density, viscosity, ash content, Saphonification value, iodine number was studied. Biodiesel has been prepared from NEEM oil by esterification and transesterification. It was examined for physical and chemical properties and chemical properties. HC, CO, NOx, SOx, and particulate matter was studied. The conversion of the biodiesel fuel's energy to work was equal to that from diesel fuel. The results also clearly indicate that the engine running with biodiesel and blends have higher NOx emission by up to 20%. However, the emissions of the CI engine running on neat biodiesel (B100) were reduced by up to 15%, 40% and 30% for CO, CO2 and THC emissions respectively, as compared to diesel fuel at various operating conditions. Biodiesel is linked to lower HC, CO, and particle emissions. This is likely owing to the fact that biodiesel includes around ten percent oxygen by weight, which aids in the oxidation of these combustion products in the cylinder.