Engine Performance and Emission Analysis using Pyrolytic Liquid as a Partial Substitute for Diesel Fuel

In this work, pyrolytic liquid-diesel fuel blends containing 10-30 % by volume of pyrolytic liquid were used as alternative fuels to run a single-cylinder diesel engine. The pyrolytic liquid (PL) was produced by the pyrolysis of Sterculia foetida seed in a fixed bed reactor at a heating rate of 5 degrees C/min and pyrolysis temperature of 550 degrees C. Tests were conducted and the engine's performance and combustion parameters such as ignition delay period, cylinder gas pressure, heat release rate, brake thermal efficiency, exhaust gas temperature, NOX and HC were evaluated. The ignition delay period and maximum cylinder gas pressure developed by 10-30 % PL-diesel blends were higher when compared to those developed by diesel fuel. The 30 % PL-diesel blend produced the highest heat release rate of 76.35 J/degrees CA among those of 10 % PL-diesel and 20 % PL-diesel blends. The difference in thermal efficiency between diesel fuel and 10 % PL-diesel blend was only 0.3 %. Among the fuel blends used, the 10 % PL-diesel blend produced the lowest NOx and HC emissions compared to other fuel blends. Thus, the engine performance results show that the PL can be used as a partial substitute at 10 % blending level with diesel fuel.