Performance Studies on a Semi-Adiabatic Diesel Engine Using Vegetable Oil as Fuel

Vegetable oils are characterised as diesel engine fuel due to their properties of adiabatic combustion under high pressure and temperature. The semi-adiabatic type of engines can be effectively utilized for achieving the best performance from combustion of vegetable oils. The present study reports the performance and exhaust emissions of such type of engine by using diesel fuel - linseed oil blends and esterified linseed oil and the results as obtained are compared with that of 100% diesel fuel operation. The influence of coating thickness and compression ratio have also been reported. Results show that BSFC, exhaust gas temperature, CO level and smoke density are increased but Br. Th. Effic. and NO_x level are decreased both in diesel fuel - linseed oil blends and esterified linseed oil compared to 100% diesel fuel operation. Results with esterified linseed oil are comparatively better than diesel fuel - linseed oil blends with higher degree of insulation.