Biogas-Straight Vegetable Oil Dual Fuel Engine for Power Generation in Remote Rural Locations

Abstract

Abstract-Decentralised power generation in remote rural locations can be done using locally available biomass based renewable energy sources. A single cylinder stationary diesel engine was run in the neat vegetable oil (Jatropha oil) -biogas dual fuel mode to study the potential of this method of operation and also device simple methods to enhance the performance. Increasing the rate of pumping of the injected Jatropha oil and retarding its timing of injection resulted in considerable improvements in thermal efficiency and reduction in emissions. The smoke level at 60% of biogas energy dropped from 2.25 to 0.9 BSU, 2.15 to 0.6 BSU and 1.4 to 0.5 BSU with 7mm, 8mm and 9mm diameter injection pump plungers respectively. Further improvements in the combustion rate of the inducted biogas were possible with enhanced swirl level of the inducted air. At 60% biogas share the thermal efficiency went up by 8%, HC emissions dropped by 26% and smoke level dropped by 17% with enhanced swirl. On the whole, energy shares of biogas as high as 80% could be achieved with good engine performance.Index Terms-Alternative engine fuels, biogas engines, dual fuel engines, vegetable oil as fuel.