Investigation on the Impact of Injection Timing on the Characteristics of a Diesel Engine Fuelled with the Blend of Microalgae Methyl Ester and Pure Diesel

This paper deals with the performance, emission and combustion features of a single cylinder four stroke compression ignition engine with fuel injection timing at advancement and retardment. The current experiment was conducted on a single cylinder four stroke diesel engine fuelled with microalgae methyl ester blended with pure diesel in the proportions of 30% and 70% respectively and it was designated as B30 (30% Microalgae methyl ester + 70% Pure diesel). The present test was carried out at three different fuel injection timings such as 19⁰ R CA (Retarded crank angle), 23⁰ S CA (Standard crank angle) and 27⁰ A CA (Advanced crank angle) BTDC. At the end, the experimental work revealed that, at retarded injection timing the performance parameters such as BSFC of B30 was improved by 7.7%, BTE was increased by 14.64% and EGT was reduced by 12.93%, emission parameters such as CO₂ was reduced by 4.42%, CO was reduced by 77.82%, UHC was reduced by 4.44%, NOx was reduced by 11.42% and smoke opacity was declined by 1.94%, but combustion parameters such as cylinder peak pressure was reduced and it was increased at advanced injection timing, maximum heat release rate of B30 was decreased for all injection timings and ignition delay is reduced but it is increased at advanced when compared to the results of pure diesel at standard injection timing at full load condition.