Royal Poinciana Biodiesel Blends with 1-Butanol as a Potential Alternative Fuel for Unmodified Research Engines

Abstract

This research work investigates the experimental work of a single-cylinder diesel engine operated with royal poinciana biodiesel blends with various proportions of 10, 20, and 30% volume with 1-butanol as an effective ignition-improving additive. The test blends were indicated as D90RP7B3 (90% diesel + 7% royal poinciana biodiesel + 3% butanol), D80RP14B6 (80% diesel + 14% royal poinciana biodiesel + 6% butanol), D70RP21B9 (70% diesel + 21% royal poinciana biodiesel + 9% butanol), and pure royal poinciana biodiesel (RP100) and diesel. The significant findings or results obtained during the experimentation are that BTE is suitable for blend D90RP7B3, and the least BSFC is found for blend D90RP7B3 in the 0.24 kg/kWh range. The inline cylinder pressures are found to be suitable for the blend D90RP7B3 in the range of 7 MPa; HRR is ideal for both the blends D90RP7B3 and D80RP14B6 in the range of 90 and 88 kJ; D90RP7B3 possesses adequate ignition delay at full load conditions 16°in crank angle advance; maximum A/F ratios are well suitable for the blend D90RP7B3 in the ratio 11:1 at higher loads. Volumetric efficiency is achieved well for all the blends and diesel; the emissions released from the royal poinciana blends, such as CO, CO 2 , HC, and NO X , were reduced by 14.12, 8.33, 11.1, and 18.8% compared to standard diesel. Hence, royal poinciana blends with 1-butanol can be considered the best fuels in the automobile sector.