The performance, emissions, and combustion characteristics of an unmodified diesel engine running on the ternary blends of pentanol/safflower oil biodiesel/diesel fuel

Abstract

Abstract: The objective of the present study is to scrutinize the influence of a binary blend of diesel–safflower oil biodiesel and ternary blends of diesel–biodiesel–pentanol on performance, emission and combustion characteristics of a diesel power generator. The test fuels were prepared on volume basis by splash blending and named as follows: B20, B20P5, B20P10, B20P15, and B20P20. The tests were carried out on a single-cylinder, four-stroke, naturally aspirated, and direct-injection diesel engine at four engine loads with a constant engine speed of 3000 rpm. According to the results, ternary blends vaguely reduced BTE while increased BSFC up to 13.90% as compared to diesel. In addition, an increase in pentanol concentration has a considerable effect on the decrease in NOX emissions. It is noted that the addition of pentanol to diesel–biodiesel blend caused to lower emissions (CO, HC, and smoke), whereas CO2 emission increased noticeably thanks to the more complete combustion due to the excess oxygen content. Reviewing combustion analysis results, pentanol addition led to decrease heat release rate and lower ignition delay up to 15% blend ratio compared to diesel. Based on the present study, pentanol can be evaluated as a promising type of higher alcohol for the compression ignition engines in the near future. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]. © 2020, Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary.