Engine Performance of a Gardener Compression Ignition Engine using Rapeseed Methyl Esther

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental investigation on the influence of engine speed on the combustion characteristics of a Gardener compression ignition engine fueled with rapeseed methyl esther (RME). The engine has a maximum power of 14.4 kW and maximum speed of 1500 rpm. The experiment was carried out at speeds of 750 and 1250 rpm under loads of 4, 8, 12, 16 and 18 kg. Variations of cylinder pressure with crank angle degrees and cylinder volume have been examined. It was found that RME demonstrated short ignition delay primarily due to its high cetane number and leaner fuel properties (equivalence ratio (φ) = 0.22 at 4kg). An increase in thermal efficiency but decrease in volumetric efficiency was recorded due to increased brake loads. Variations in fuel mass flow rate, air mass flow rate, exhaust gas temperatures and equivalence ratio with respect to brake mean effective pressure at engine speeds of 750 and 1250 rpm were also demonstrated in this paper. Higher engine speed of 1250 rpm resulted in higher fuel and air mass flow rates, exhaust temperature, brake power and equivalent ratio but lower volumetric efficiency. Keywords— combustion characteristics, engine performance, engine speed, rapeseed methyl Esther

Exhaust emission characteristics of a gardener compression ignition engine fuelled with rapeseed methyl ester and fossil diesel

“…However, these are entirely competing requirements for an RME fuel. For instance, Dandajeh and Ahmadu [16] found that the output of the engine (bmep) increased with air-fuel ratio, equivalence ratio and exhaust gas temperatures with decrease in volumetric efficiency. This decrease in bmep could lead to an increase in CO2 and NOx (see Fig3a & 3e) emissions but decrease in O2, CO and HC emissions (see Figs.3b, 3c and 3d) at both 750 rpm and 1250 rpm operating speeds.…”

Effect of equalising ignition delay on combustion and soot emission characteristics of model fuel blends

“…In recent days, the use of oxygenated fuels or biofuels have been investigated [10]. For example, Ning et al [11] examined the effect of adding alcohols (methanol, ethanol and n-butanol) into diesel fuel on the emission and combustion characteristics in a direct injection diesel engine.…”