Effective Utilization of Waste Cooking Oil Methyl Ester-Diesel blends in a Semi-Adiabatic CI Engine – An Experimental Approach

Abstract

The utilization of energy produced in an internal combustion (IC) engine plays a key role in improving engine performance. Thermal Barrier Coating (TBC) is one of the effective engine modification methods to utilize the energy effectively in an IC engine. The alternative fuels with very poor fuel properties can be fuelled successfully in a TBC mode. In this study, an investigation was carried out in a TBC, single-cylinder, diesel engine fuelled with waste cooking oil-diesel blend. In the first phase, the waste cooking oil methyl ester (WCOME) is fuelled in the standard engine for the performance, combustion and emission characteristics. In the second phase, the WCOME blend with diesel to an appropriate percentage of 20% by volume (WCOMEB20) and tested in the standard engine for the characteristics. In the third phase, the standard engine is converted to TBC mode. The engine combustion chamber components such as piston crown, cylinder head, inlet and exhaust valve were coated with bond coat nickel, chromium, aluminium alloy (NiCrAl) thickness 100 microns and ceramic coat of 8% yttria stabilized zirconia (8%YSZ) with a thickness of 200 microns. In the fourth phase, the WCOMEB20 was fuelled in the TBC mode for the characteristics and finally, the results were compared. From the experimental result, it was come known that WCOMEB20 showed betterment in the fuel properties such as viscosity, density, and cetane index compare with the neat WCOME. The substantial improvement in the performance and exhaust emissions such as carbon monoxide (CO), unburnt hydrocarbon (UHC), and smoke opacity with WCOMEB20 compared with neat WCOME. Furthermore, the TBC mode fuelled with WCOMEB20 experienced a supreme enhancement in the performance, combustion and emission except nitric oxide (NO). This improvement was due to the betterment in the fuel properties with WCOMEB20 and high in-cylinder temperature with TBC which enhanced the combustion and reduce the unburnt charges present inside the combustion chamber. From the above finding, it was concluded that WCOMEB20 fuelled with TBC mode was an effective fuel and engine modification technique to improve the performance, combustion and emission characteristics of a diesel engine.