Investigation of Effects of Kerosene Variation on a Tertiary Blended Biodiesel Powered Internal Combustion Engine Performance and Emission

Abstract

Blended fuel performance and emissions have been suggested as a surrogate for pure conventional diesel. Few countries have adopted 15% and lower biodiesel blending. Yet, lower emission levels than at present remains elusive. This study investigated the tertiary blends of Khaya senegalensis (African Mahogany) biodiesel and conventional diesel with varied kerosene proportion in a direct injection compression ignition engine to improve engine performance and reduce emissions. It is an experimental-based methodology process involving ASTM standard characterizations for 5% kerosene to biodiesel-diesel (BDK5), 15% kerosene to biodiesel-diesel (BDK15), 25% kerosene to biodiesel-diesel (BDK25), pure diesel (D100), pure biodiesel (B100) blends at constant 10% biodiesel proportion in each tertiary blend. Results showed significant decrease in viscosity and density leading to good atomization of the tertiary blends. Furthermore, the rich mixture combustion of blends indicated BDK15 and BDK5 to be comparatively better than D100 in air-fuel ratio with 12.28, 10.3 and 8.99 (BDK15); 11.32, 11.49 and 10.6 (BDK5) as against 14.35, 9.81 and 8.39 (D100). The brake mean effective pressure effects were 2.117 bar, 2.752 bar and 3.37 bar (BDK15); 2.122 bar, 2.527 bar, and 3.255 bar (BDK5); 2.058 bar, 2.377 bar and 3.355 bar (D100) at 3.4 N m, 4.35 N m and 5.3 N m, respectively. Similarly, brake thermal efficiency significantly improved with BDK15 and BDK5 over D100 on progressive torque increments whereas the energy liberated performance of BDK15 was comparatively better. All tertiary blends emitted lower CO2 than D100. However, D100 had the lowest exhaust gas temperature. There is a significant kerosene blended fuel effect on compression ignition engine performance and emissions.