Experimental Investigation of Optimum Blend Ratio of Jatropha, Palm and Coconut Based Biodiesel to Improve Fuel Properties, Engine Performance and Emission Characteristics 2013-01-2675

Fossil fuel is depleting due to increase in usage and we are facing energy crises. For us to get out of such plight situations, scientists are looking into alternative ways to produce energy that can be attained at low cost and also eco-friendly. Biodiesel can be an effective solution in spite of some limitations to use as fuel because of poor fuel properties. From this point of view, experiment had been conducted to improve fuel properties of palm biodiesel by blending with coconut and jatropha biodiesel. MATLAB optimization tool was used to find out the optimum blend ratio to achieve overall better fuel properties. Linear relationship among the fuel properties was considered for MATLAB coding. The resultant optimum blend ratio and the equations of the MATLAB code were used to predict the fuel properties values and the experimental fuel properties values of the optimum blends were compared with the predicted values. Two new biodiesels were developed which were represented by PC (optimum blend of palm and coconut biodiesel) and JPC (optimum blend of jatropha, palm and coconut biodiesel) that demonstrated improved fuel properties compared to individual biodiesel presented in the blends. Engine performance and emission were tested using 20% blend of each of the biodiesels (Palm, PC and JPC) with petroleum diesel and the engine performance and emission characteristics for the blend of PC and JPC were compared with P20 (blend of 20% palm biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel) and petroleum diesel. Results showed that engine torque was higher at higher BSFC (brake specific fuel consumption) for all of the three blends of biodiesels. JPC20 (blend of 20% JPC biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel) showed the highest engine torque at a BSFC lower than PC20 (blend of 20% PC biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel). P20 showed the lowest emission of CO and smoke where JPC blend showed the lowest emission in case of NO_x. However, JPC blend was found to be the best fuel regarding engine performance and emission compared to others fuel blends and petroleum diesel as well.