Experimental Investigation of Combustion and Exhaust Emission Characteristics of a Variable Compression Ratio Engine Using Isopropyl Alcohol (2-Propanol)-Diethyl Ether Blend with Diesel.

The continuous growth of population and development of industries give rise to massive increase in the global energy demand in recent years. Therefore present work investigated the combustion and emission characteristics of an unmodified four stroke single cylinder variable compression ratio diesel engine utilizing isopropyl alcohol (2-propanol)-diethyl ether blends with diesel. The different fuel samples were prepared using 10% isopropyl, alcohol 5% diethyl ether by volume (IPD15), 15% isopropyl alcohol, 5% diethyl ether by volume (IPD20) and 20% isopropyl alcohol 5% diethyl ether by volume (IPD25) with neat standard diesel. All experiment tests were performed with at variable compression ratio 17 and 18 at different load conditions. The effect of blends and compression ratio on combustion parameters viz. peak cylinder pressure and rate of heat release along with exhaust emissions CO, CO₂, HC and NO_x, were investigated. The results of the experiment has been investigated and compared with standard diesel and results exhibited the higher peak cylinder pressure and heat release for IPD15 and IPD20 than that of IPD25 at both compression ratio 17 and 18. However exhaust emissions strongly depend on engine operating conditions and proportions of isopropyl alcohol-diethyl ether blends though It has been observed that increase in concentration of isopropyl alcohol in isopropyl alcohol (2-propanol)-diethyl ether blends reduces NO_x emissions, while increasing CO and HC emissions at compression ratio 18.On the basis of combustion and emission studies of present investigation IPD15 and IPD20 may be used as suitable alternative fuels for diesel engines without major modification in engine compounds.