EMISSION AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF A CI ENGINE FUELLED BY COTTONSEED OIL METHYL ESTER AND DIESEL FUEL BLEND

Abstract

Many researches of vegetable oil fuels have investigated that the vegetable oils can be used as an alternative fuel for diesel engines. The viscosity of crude vegetable oils is rather high than diesel fuel. High viscosity has negative effect on atomisation quality, and so engine performance and exhaust emissions are affected badly and become failure on engine parts. To decrease of viscosity of cottonseed oil methyl ester was produced and tested as alternative fuel in a single cylinder, four strokes, air-cooled diesel engine. Engine tests carried out at full loaddifferent speed range, the engine torque and power of cottonseed oil methyl ester with diesel fuel blend was lower than that of diesel fuel in range of 2-3 % and specific fuel consumption was higher than that of diesel fuel of approximately 3 %. CO2, CO and NOx emissions of cottonseed methyl ester were lower than that of diesel fuel. The cottonseed oil methyl ester fuel was used successfully as alternative fuel in short-term tests.