Comparative evaluation of performance, emission and combustion characteristics of CI engine fuelled with neem biodiesel with the addition of methanol and diethyl-ether

Multifarious properties of esterified neem oil have been tested to evaluate the effects of using two different additives, i.e. methanol and diethyl-ether to biodiesel–diesel blends. The tests were done to measure the performance, combustion and emission characteristics of a diesel engine. M10 (10% methanol and 90% diesel in vol.), DEE10 (10% diethyl ether and 90% diesel in vol.) and diesel were used as the baseline fuel. The combustion starts earlier in M10 fuels than DEE10. At full load, Diethyl-ether added blends show the higher peak cylinder pressure compared to respective methanol blends. 10% and 20% biodiesel blends show higher peaks of heat release rate compared to that of 30% blends and neat diesel. The brake thermal efficiency of M10 is the highest among all the blends. Methanol blends show higher CO and higher HC emissions, and lower NOX emission compared to their respective Diethyl-ether blends. © 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.