An experimental investigation of performance and emission characteristics of a CI engine fuelled with waste cooking methyl ester and its respective blends with diesel fuel

Abstract

The main aim of this paper is to study the optimization, performance and emission characteristics of WCOME. The Transesterification of WCO with methanol has been studied in the presence of various catalyst i.e. sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide. The optimization of experimental parameters was established to gain 95% WCOME. The final properties of WCOME like density, viscosity, pour point, cloud point, flash point, fire point and C.V. were evaluated by ASTM standards and were found to be comparable to ASTM standards for diesel. The most recommended WCME blended ratio 5 to 20% for better engine performance and emission characteristics were used. The performance and emission indicators such as brake power, BTE, EGT, BSFC, NOx, CO, CO2, HC and smoke opacity have been estimated for 5%, 10% and 20% blend are compared to diesel fuel. The results of experiment shows that BSFC increases with use of biodiesel however BSEC decreases with increase in blend percentage. CO and HC emissions were reduced for biodiesel. But NOX emission increases at B20 blend by 50% from (B5, B10 and B20). This work discovered that waste cooking methyl esters can be used in CI engine as a replacement of diesel fuel.