Performance and emissions characteristics of diesel engine equipped with common-rail fuel injection system fuelled with Jatropha oil/kerosene blends

Abstract

Oil derived from Jatropha is a potential alternative to fossil fuels for Diesel engines in Mozambique because it can be cheaper and more easily available than fatty acid methyl ester, though the physical properties, e.g. high viscosity, might be a problem. As an attempt to use Jatropha oil (JO) in Diesel engines, the present study mixed JO into kerosene. Engine tests as well as un-evaporating spray visualization were carried out. The results demonstrated that a single cylinder engine can be successfully operated with JO blended kerosene despite the fact that the ignition delay is slightly longer than diesel fuel. There were no significant changes of exhaust gas emissions. It is also clear that mixing JO into kerosene can contribute to the reductions of insoluble fraction and soluble organic fraction contained in particulate matter than mixing into diesel fuel.