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India possesses only 0.3% of world petroleum reserves and hence heavily dependent upon petroleum derived fuels to feed its rapidly growing economy. Diesel Engines due to their superior performance have wide application in India, however, they also pollute environment significantly. Research is underway in India and elsewhere to explore the potential of variety of alternative fuels which could substitute diesel in a holistic manner. And in this context, non-edible vegetable oils are very promising as India has a large area of degraded land where such crops could be raised without compromising food security. Large number of studies have suggested that vegetable oils are not suitable in neat form as a fuel in diesel engine and should be trans-esterified using either methanol or ethanol to form esters to bring their properties similar to diesel fuel.

Biodiesel in has gained great momentum in last few years and has been a subject of vast research all around the globe. Bulk of the research work carried out so far has been confined to production of methyl esters of vegetable oil that is known as biodiesel in the transesterification process. In the present study, jatropha oil ethyl ester (JOEE) was prepared using transesterification process with ethanol and KOH as a catalyst. The evaluation of important physico-chemical properties was carried and the properties were found within acceptable limits of ASTM/EN standards. A small capacity diesel engine was fuelled with different blends of JOEE and diesel and various performances, emission and combustion characteristics were evaluated. The results suggested that brake thermal efficiency was increased and emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and smoke opacity were found lower for JOEE blend confirming better combustion due to the oxygenated fuel and higher cetane rating.

It is of common knowledge that tapping all the feasible sources of energy and systems which prevent losses is the need of the hour. Currently, many such systems have been developed including “REGENERATIVE BRAKING”. The usual method for regenerative braking includes using a dynamo attached to the crankshaft which gets charged when the wheel rotates during idling. However, this study aims at doing this differently by attaching the regenerative system at the wheels. Considering an example of wastage of energy, a 1000 kg car brakes from 36km/h (10m/s) to 18km/h (5m/s) about 150 times in a liter consumption of diesel. We can safely calculate wastage of 5625 KJ of kinetic energy. This paper aims to explore this immense potential source of energy recovery by producing & storing electricity using magnetic braking on wheels of automobiles.

Globalization, urbanization and industrialization have paved the way for manufacturing activities and production, maintaining standards and competition which have eventually resulted in skyrocketing fuel prices, a drastic increase in carbon emissions as well as exhaustion of petroleum resources at an alarming level. Multiple researchers have therefore explored alternative fuels for diesel engines. Industries have time and again proven to develop technologies that have not only reduced the emissions produced in combustion engines but have also increased their efficiency, power and fuel economy. Using alternative fuels can also aid in reducing air pollution. Biodiesel is an alternative, renewable and biodegradable fuel which can significantly reduce emissions in an automobile and push the economical, sustainable and smart growth of the country. Kusum (Schleichera oleosa) oil still has great potential which must be realized.

With fossil fuels depleting at a fast rate and global temperatures attaining an all-time high, search for alternative fuels, to drive the vehicles of tomorrow, has become more rampant. Bio-diesels made from different animal and plant stocks, due to their similar properties to diesel fuel, thus are of great interest to researchers. With reduced CO, NOx, PM and other toxic emissions thereby decreasing health costs, bio-diesel is the ideal alternative to save the environment from further deterioration. In this study, Bio-diesel is produced from non-edible vegetable oil produced from Soapnut which though widely available in India, is otherwise considered waste. Using the oil from Soapnut seeds is not only a scheme for converting waste to wealth and earn commercial gains but also a vital source of biodiesel due to high oil content.