Effects of Partial Addition of Butanol in a Rubber seed Oil Methyl Ester Diesel Blend

Experiments were conducted to obtain the performance and emission characteristics of rubber seed oil methyl ester (ROME) diesel blend with partial addition of butanol [ROME - (40%) + Diesel (40%) + Butanol (20%)] in a single cylinder four stroke diesel engine at constant speed. Performance and emission characteristics of butanol added in ROME-diesel blend were compared with the characteristics of diesel-butanol blend [Diesel (80%) + Butanol (20%)] and diesel (100%), by varying the load on engine [no load (0%) to full load condition (100%)] for the compression ratio at 18:1. It is observed that, performance characteristics of butanol added in ROME-diesel blend like mechanical efficiency and brake thermal efficiency increases with increasing the load percentage. Volumetric efficiency and brake specific fuel consumption decreases with increasing load. The exhaust gas temperature also increases with increasing load percentage. It is also observed that, carbon monoxide emissions were less for all the selected oils. Carbon dioxide emissions were increased with increase in load. NOx emissions obtained using butanol added in ROME-diesel blend was found to be less than diesel-butanol blend and diesel. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.