Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 787

Abstract: Biodiesel is a renewable fuel and an attractive alternative to replace fossil diesel without major engine modifications. However, the emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) from biodiesel fuelled engines are reported to be higher compared to diesel engine. The characteristics of biodiesel are known to depend on their fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) contents which vary with the feedstock. Thus the contribution of saturation and unsaturation of pure components of fatty acid methyl esters on NOx formation warrants a systematic investigation. This paper attempts to relate the composition of biodiesel with NOx formation. For this purpose, the NO formation from pure fatty acid methyl esters are predicted using extended Zeldovich reaction scheme. Also, the experiments are conducted for measuring oxides of nitrogen from a compression ignition engine operated using neat palm and karanja methyl esters and their blends providing biodiesel combinations of varying degree of saturation for investigation. The measured NOx concentrations are compared with the corresponding predictions to affirm the influence of fatty acid methyl ester on engine NOx characteristics. The results clearly indicate that the change in degree of saturation influences the NOx formation and an increase in the degree of saturation of biodiesel decreases the engine NOx emission.

Abstract: TheProduction of biofuel from biomass sources is believed to reduce the reliance of fossil fuel and its cost. This investigation was aimed to produce and characterize the bio-oil obtained from co-pyrolysis. Two different feed stocks were used for co-pyrolysis; one is Mahua seed (MS) and the other one is Polystyrene (PS). The effect in addition of plastic to biomass in pyrolysis process were investigated on the yield and quality of products. Experiments were conducted in a semi-batch pyrolysis reactor under various parameters of temperature, heating rate and blending ratio. The results indicated that a temperature of 525 °C, and blend ratio of 1:1is maximumwith a heating rate of 20 °C/min. The yield of bio-oil obtained from the co-pyrolysis was found to be approximately 71%, which was higher about 22% than that of yield obtained from pyrolysis of Mahua seed (MS) alone. Further the bio-oil was characterized using different spectroscopic and chromatographic analyses. The analysis of the results for characterization of bio-oil indicated that the synergetic effect increased the bio-oil yield and its quality.

Abstract: Biodiesel is one of the promising alternative fuels for automotive engines due to the depletion of fossil fuel resources, increasing energy demands and environmental concerns. The biodiesel can be obtained from various bio energy resources such as edible and non-edible vegetable oils and animal fats. However, the use of biodiesel derived from edible oils such as palm oil, sunflower oil and soybean oil has negative impact on global food market. Biodiesel from microalgae is considered as a third generation biofuel derived from non-edible resources and best suited for internal combustion engines. Microalgae have the potential to provide sufficient fuel for global consumption due to its high oil content and fast growing ability. This paper provides a brief overview of biodiesel production from microalgae biomass and its suitability as alternate fuel in diesel engines. This review highlights the selection of suitable algae species for oil production, fuel properties in comparison with standard diesel and other biodiesel fuels, performance, combustion and emission characteristics when used in engines, and the economical aspects. Further, the research and development aspects of biodiesel from microalgae as fuel for automobile diesel engines are also reviewed.

Abstract: The prime objective of this paper is to present the details of a thermoelectric waste heat energy recovery system for automobiles, more specifically, the surface heat available in the silencer. The key is to directly convert the surface heat energy from automotive waste heat to electrical energy using a thermoelectric generator, which is then regulated by a DC–DC Cuk converter to charge a battery using maximum power point tracking. Hence, the electrical power stored in the battery can be maximized. Also the other face of the TEG will remain cold. Hence the skin burn out accidents can be avoided. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed system can work well under different working conditions, and is promising for automotive industry.

Abstract: In view of the fast depletion of fossil fuels, the search for alternative fuels has become inevitable, due to huge demand of diesel for transportation sector, captive power generation and agricultural sector, the biodiesel is being viewed as a substitute for diesel. The aim of the present work is to focus on the work done in the area of production of biodiesel from Pongamia oil and waste cooking oil and the characterization of properties of various bio diesel blends in single cylinder four stroke diesel engine. The main problem with biodiesel is its higher viscosity which leads to formation of gums that would affect its performance. The work includes the impact analysis of biodiesel prepared from Pongamia oil and waste cooking oil on engine performance and exhaust emission. The results obtained are compared with the performance parameters of diesel. The experiment is carried out in DI diesel engine equipped with 5 gas analyzer and smoke meter. From the test result, it is found that the use of biodiesel leads to the substantial reduction in particulate emission, CO emissions accompanying with the imperceptible power loss, the increase in fuel consumption and the increase in NOx emission on conventional diesel engine with no or fewer modification. From the results, it can be observed that biodiesel likely to replace diesel as a source of fuel in near future.

Abstract: Turbochargers are an integral part of today’s modern diesel engines and are a major reason that they are able to produce more power. Unlike a super charger that is driven via a belt from the engine, a turbo takes the exhaust that the engine is producing and puts it to good use. As Turbochargers are driven by exhaust, heat is an unwelcome by product and something that wasn’t really taken into account in automobiles. Then those intercoolers started to come into play in turbocharged automobiles. The forced air produced by the turbocharger is routed through the intercooler where its temperature is reduced before reaching the engine. The use of intercoolers has made turbocharged vehicles far more reliable and, in the case of today’s heavy duty diesel trucks, is a very important component. The inlet air of an IC engine from turbocharger temperature is very much high (due to compression) means oxygen content is very much less. And also air with high temperature causes pre-ignition and detonation. So fuel combustion does not take place properly. Inter Cooling of inlet air is very much essential according to performance point of view. Turbo intercoolers are used for cooling the inlet air of an IC engine from turbo chargers. Moreover cooling of air makes it denser and contributes for better combustion and more power they are mounted close to the radiators for achieving lower air temperature. This arrangement affects the performance of both. So in this project an attempt will be made to increase the efficiency of the turbo intercooler arrangement through design modification and repositioning of intercooler by taking the TATA MARCOPOLO-Star Bus 909 as a reference.

Abstract: As the decreasing availability of the fossil fuel is rising day by day, the search of alternate fuel that can be used as a substitute to the conventional fuels is rising rapidly. Especially, the exhaust gas emission by using fossil fuel insists on exploring the available sources of biofuel to provide an eco-friendly environment compared to that of fossil fuels. India depends mainly on imported fuels due to lack of fossil fuel reserves and it has a great impact on the economy. Biodiesel is one of the best available resources that has come to the forefront recently. Recent studies and research have made it possible to extract biodiesel at economical costs and quantities. The blend of biodiesel with fossil diesel has many benefits like reduction in emissions, lower engine wear, reduction in engine oil consumption and comparable thermal efficiency with diesel. It is also found that low fuel consumption and increase in thermal efficiency of engines for biodiesel fuels having higher calorific values than diesel. This paper reviews the performance and emission characteristics of various biodiesel fuels used in CI engine as alternate fuel. This study is based on the reports of biodiesel fuel published by different researchers.

Abstract: The present research paper describes about the anaerobic digestion of vegetable (Banana, Cauliflower, potato, and sweet potato) and flower wastes (Rose, sambangi, gulmohar, marigold, golden shower tree, silk tree mimosa) in a 1L capacity of anaerobic digestor using pig manure as an inoculums. The digester was operated in the ratio of 1:1 of substrate to inoculums at RT. The substrate concentrations are varied such as 5%, 7%, and 10% was used and amount of gas produced was analysed using digital pressure gauge. The results obtained showed that, marigold flower had given higher yield of biogas than vegetable wastes and the digestion period was less. The average biogas production potential of withered flowers was observed as 14.36 g/kg in 5 days, where in case of vegetable wastes it was 10.0234 g/kg in 6 days. The study showed that flowers which are available in abundant in India is thrown away within a day, in the environment. These feedstocks are good feed stock for the production of biogas. The generation of biogas from flowers and vegetable waste upholds the concept of waste to wealth in enhancing sustainability of development. The future research work is mainly focused on the characterization of the main component present in the bio-gas using sophisticated instruments.

Abstract: The ain of the present paper describes about the bio-oil extraction using soxhlet and supercritical CO₂ process. The percentage yield 82.34 % was more in the case of supercritical CO₂ extraction. The extracted bio-oil was converted into biodiesel using enzymatic trans-esterification reaction. A novel catalyst Gum arabic coated magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles are used in the enzymatic trans-esterification reaction. The extracted bio-oil and produced bio-diesel samples were characterised using GC-MS spectral data. Similarly, physical properties such as density, flash point, kinematic viscosity, cloud point and pour point were found out for Jatropha oil and Jatropha methyl ester. The values obtained from the Jatropha methyl ester is closely matched with the values of conventional diesel and can be used in the existing diesel engine without any modification.

Abstract: The performance and emissions from diesel engines are greatly influenced by the degree of atomization of the fuel spray. The characteristics of the spray affect the physics of formation of the air-fuel mixture. They depend on density and viscosity of fuel, injection pressure, pressure and temperature of fuel. The spray structure is primarily dependent on the fuel injection pressure. This study involves the carrying out of experimental investigations on biodiesel and diesel fuel sprays in a DI diesel engine for different injection pressures. The spray cone angle and spray tip penetration length are studied experimentally. Using spray visualization system and image processing techniques, the experimental data is obtained. The fuels used are Karanja oil methyl ester (KOME) and diesel. The experimental results show that, as the injection pressure increases, the spray cone angle decreases for KOME and similar trends are observed with diesel. In addition, spray penetration length increases with increase in injection pressure and the value of the same was slightly higher for KOME than that of diesel. The results also reveal similarities in spray characteristics of both the test fuels.