Performance, emission and combustion characteristics of an Indica diesel engine operated with Yellow Oleander (<i>Thevetia peruviana</i>) oil biodiesel produced through hydrodynamic cavitation method

Abstract

The present work deals about the performance, emission and combustion characteristics of a four-cylinder, direct injection, water-cooled, Indica diesel engine fuelled with biodiesel produced through the hydrodynamic cavitation method from an underutilised and potential feedstock Yellow Oleander (Thevetia peruviana) oil. Engine tests were performed with neat diesel and biodiesel blends of 10%, 20% and 30% from Yellow Oleander oil at different engine speeds. Experimental results showed that biodiesel produced through the hydrodynamic cavitation technique with a 1% w/w catalyst percentage, 6:1 molar ratio and 35 min reaction time was equal to 97.5%. During engine performance tests, biodiesel blends showed higher brake-specific fuel consumption, brake thermal efficiency (for lower blends up to 20%) and exhaust gas temperature than diesel fuel. Engine emissions showed higher nitrogen oxide, but a decreased amount of smoke opacity, carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbon and favourable p–θ diagram as compared to diesel.