Effect of n-Butanol and Diethyl Ether on Performance and Emission Characteristics of a Diesel Engine Fueled with Diesel–Pongamia Biodiesel Blend

Abstract

This paper deals with the enhancement of performance and emission characteristics of a diesel engine operated on Pongamia biodiesel–diesel blend with the addition of 5% n-butanol and diethyl ether by volume. Engine trials were performed on a variable speed (1,–3, rpm), four-cylinder Indica car engine. Engine performance parameters such as brake thermal efficiency, brake-specific fuel consumption, brake-specific energy consumption, and engine emissions such as carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide, and smoke opacity were measured. Performance and emissions characteristics of the modified blends (blends with additives) were compared with baseline fuel (Pongamia biodiesel–diesel blend) for the assessment of the enhancement. The analysis revealed that the modified blends had remarkable enhancement in performance and emission characteristics.