Performance analysis of a single cylinder DI diesel engine using different biodiesel

Biodiesel produced from cottonseed oil is quite a promising alternative fuel for diesel engines. Use of vegetable oils in diesel engines leads to slightly inferior performance and higher smoke emissions due to their high viscosity and carbon residue. But the performance of vegetable oils can be improved by modifying them through the transesterification process. The research work discusses the performance, combustion and emission characteristics of a single cylinder direct injection diesel engine run by using biodiesel, which was obtained from various vegetable oils like pungam oil, rice bran oil, cotton seed oil and tamanu oil. Those characteristics were compared with diesel fuel. The experimental investigations were carried out in a single cylinder water-cooled, direct injection diesel engine. The crank angle encoder measured the engine speed; the piezo electric sensors measured the cylinder pressure and the fuel injection pressure. This research work aims on the effective use of biodiesel in the diesel engine without modifying any engine specification. [Received: January 18, 2011; Accepted: March 27, 2011]