Abstract
In the current investigation, fuel blend combination (FBC) of spirulina microalgae biodiesel (SMAB), diesel, ethanol, and methanol is prepared and assessed. Engine performance and spray attributes of FBC were investigated through Diesel-RK Software (DRS) at different engine loads using FBC0, FBC1, FBC2, FBC3, FBC4, FBC5, and FBC6. The viscosity of SMAB decreased with the addition of alcohol. Increasing percentage of SMAB from 0 to 40% in the FBC increases the spray characteristics by 11.9%. Performance of engine was enhanced by adding ethanol and menthol to SMAB and diesel combinations. Brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) were 1.7% higher and 6.6% lower for FBC6 blend compared to FBC0 (diesel fuel). Increase in percentage of SMAB, ethanol, and methanol in hybrid fuels has shown a decrease in smoke emissions, NOX emissions by 41.3 and 43% at various engine loads.
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Data availability
The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Abbreviations
- BTE:
-
Brake thermal efficiency
- BSFC:
-
Brake specific fuel consumption
- CO:
-
Carbon monoxide
- DRS:
-
Diesel-RK Software
- DOD:
-
Diameter of drops
- FBC:
-
Fuel blend combination
- FBC0:
-
100% diesel fuel
- FBC1:
-
80% diesel fuel and 20% spirulina microalgae biodiesel
- FBC2:
-
FBC2
- FBC3:
-
60% diesel fuel and 40% spirulina microalgae biodiesel
- FBC4:
-
80% FBC1 and 20% ethanol
- FBC5:
-
80% FBC1 and 20% methanol
- FBC6:
-
80% FBC2 and 20% methanol
- FSTP:
-
Free spray tip penetration
- HSL:
-
Hartridge smoke level
- IC:
-
Internal combustion
- PCP:
-
Peak cylinder pressure
- SCA:
-
Spray cone angle
- SOE:
-
Summary of emission
- SMAB:
-
Spirulina microalgae biodiesel
- Xi :
-
Mixing ratio of fuel
- \({\uprho _\text{b}}\) :
-
Density of blend
- \({\uprho _\text{i}}\) :
-
Known density of fuel component
- σ:
-
Surface tension
- \(C{N_b}\) :
-
Cetane number of blend
- \(C{I_i}\) :
-
Known cetane number of fuel component
- \(H{V_b}\) :
-
Lower heating value of blend
- \(H{V_i}\) :
-
Known lower heating value of fuel component
- \({\eta _b}\) :
-
Kinetic viscosity of blend
- \({\eta _i}\) :
-
Known kinetic viscosity of fuel component
- \(VB{I_b}\) :
-
Viscosity blend index
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Authors are highly grateful to Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology and Rajeev Gandhi Memorial College of Engineering & Technology for providing basic facilities to compile this work.
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Upendra Rajak: Writing original draft. Abhishek Dasore: Resources & Supervision. Prem Kumar Chaurasiya: Resources & Supervision. Tikendra Nath Verma: Editing the Manuscript. Prerana Nashine: Editing the Manuscript. Anil Kumar: Reviewing & final drafting.
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Rajak, U., Dasore, A., Chaurasiya, P.K. et al. Effects of microalgae -ethanol-methanol-diesel blends on the spray characteristics and emissions of a diesel engine. Environ Dev Sustain 25, 1–22 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-021-01998-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-021-01998-6