No abstract

Biodiesel represents an alternative to petroleum-based diesel fuel. Chemically speaking, biodiesel is a mixture of mono-alkyl esters of fatty acids, most often obtained from extracted plant oils and/or collected animal fats. With increasing demand on the use of petroleum products, a stronger threat to clean environment is being poised as the burning of these fuels in associated with emissions like CO2, CO and particulate matter, which is currently the dominant global source of emissions. Cottonseed oil methyl ester was prepared by transesterification using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as catalyst, and used as additive which blends the mixture of ethanol-diesel. An unmodified single cylinder, constant speed of 1500 rev/min, four stroke, direct injection, and naturally aspirated vertical compression ignition, typical to engines used in the agricultural sector (pumps, tractors) was fueled with ethanol, diesel and cottonseed oil biodiesel at different ratios in the current performance and emission studies.Fuel characteristics (density, calorific value, viscosity and flash point), engine performance and emission characteristics have been investigated and significant improvements were observed. Blends E15CSO50D35, E20CSO50D30, E25CSO50D25 experience a better higher brake thermal efficiency compared to the conventional diesel fuel at different Injection pressures. Even there is a 2.51% higher brake thermal efficiency improvement with blend E25CSO50D25 at 190 bar compared to diesel. For E25CSO50D25 at 170 bar injection pressure, Exhaust gas temperature is lower compared to all other blends at full load condition. Unburnt hydrocarbons emission is found to be 72 ppm for E25CSO50D25 at 170 bar is less compared to 89 ppm for Neat diesel at 210 bar at full load condition.