2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, 273010, India
3Department of Mechanical Engineering, Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, 273010, India
Abstract
Fossil fuels are being depleted at an alarming rate due to growth in industrialization, transportation, the power and agricultural sectors, and motorization globally. Hence, the development of alternative fuels is an emerging research need to meet energy demands in such sectors. Waterhyacinth, a problematic invasive weed, is abundantly available, and n-butanol (sustainable, green, and dependable) is a longer-chain, oxygenated alcohol additive with outstanding fuel properties. With this motivation, the present research explores the performance and emission characteristics of a vertical, 4-stroke, water-cooled, single cylinder CI engine that runs on ternary fuel blends consisting of water-hyacinth biodiesel (WHB), n-butanol, and diesel under variable loads. Conversion of water hyacinth oil into WHB was carried out by transesterification, using NaOH (1% by wt.) as a catalyst and methanol (20 ml) as a solvent. The solutions were mixed with constant stirring for 150 minutes at 60 °C using a magnetic stirrer. Thereafter, the solution was transferred into a separating funnel and kept undisturbed for 24 hrs, allowing glycerol and water hyacinth biodiesel to separate from the solution. In predetermined proportions, n-butanol (0%, 5%, and 10%, by vol.) and diesel (80%,75%, and 70%, by vol.) were mixed with WHB (fixed at 20% by vol.) using a magnetic stirrer. Three blends were formed and named WHB20D80, WHB20D75B5, and WHB20D70B10. The fuel properties of ternary blends are examined according to ASTM standards. Experiments reveal an increase in brake specific fuel consumption of 8.0% and a decrease in brake thermal efficiency of 3.87% for WHB20D75B5 compared to diesel. Decreases in carbon monoxide of 5.5%, 16.6%, and 25% and in unburned hydrocarbon emissions of 5.80%, 11.76%, and 17.64% were observed for WHB20D80, WHB20D75B5, and WHB20D70B10, respectively. Additionally, it has been observed that CO2 and NOx emissions were higher than diesel. WHB20D75B5 may be used effectively and safely in compression-ignition engines without engine modifications.
