Author : S.Narasimha Kumar

Experiments were conducted to determine exhaust emissions and combustion characteristics with a conventional diesel engine (CE) and ceramic coated low heat rejection (LHR) diesel engine [with ceramic coated cylinder head] with different operating conditions [normal temperature and pre-heated temperature] of linseed oil based biodiesel with varied injection timing and injector opening pressure. Exhaust emissions [smoke and oxides of nitrogen] and combustion characteristics [peak pressure, maximum rate of pressure rise and time of occurrence of peak pressure] were determined at peak load operation of the engine fuelled with linseed oil based biodiesel with different versions of the engine. Comparative studies on exhaust emissions and combustion characteristics were made between different versions of the engine with biodiesel operation with varied engine parameters. Smoke levels decreased and NOx levels increased with engine with LHR combustion chamber with biodiesel operation. Advanced injection timing, increase of injector opening pressure preheated biodiesel reduced exhaust emissions from LHR engine with biodiesel operation.

Keywords: Alternate Fuels, Vegetable Oils, Biodiesel, LHR engine, Exhaust emissions, Combustion characteristics.

Article published in International Journal of Current  Engineering  and Technology, Vol.4,No.2 (April- 2014)