Canola Oil as a Fuel for Compression Ignition Engine – An Experimental Investigation

This work aims to discuss the practices required to address the effective utilization of Canola oil in compression ignition engine. Initially, raw canola oil was obtained using mortar and pestle method. In the second phase, transesterification of canola oil was done using methanol as the reacting agent and potassium hydroxide as the catalyst. The extracted biodiesel was then subjected to various standardization techniques and spectroscopic studies such as GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy), NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy) and FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy). In the third phase of the study, an engine test bench was developed with all suitable accessories. Instead of utilizing the neat form of canola biodiesel, an attempt was made to use the diesel and ethanol blends of canola biodiesel. The Variable load test was carried out using neat diesel and a best blend containing 30% by volume of canola biodiesel, 30% by volume of diesel and 40% by volume of ethanol (D30-CBD30-E40) at standard injection timing (i.e. 23^oBTDC). In the next phase, the standard injection timing of best blend was advanced and retarded by 2^o crank angle. Engine test results claimed that, brake thermal efficiency of best blend with advanced injection timing was increased by 23.1% as compared with standard injection timing. Advancement of injection timing had the benefits of reduced hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and smoke emission at the penalty of slight increment in oxides of nitrogen emission. Cylinder pressure and heat release rate also found to be improved with advancement of fuel injection of the best blend.