Effects of Preheating of Crude Jatropha Oil on Performance and Emission of a Diesel Engine

Vol. 5 No. 2

Year : 2010

Issue : Nov-Jan

Title  : Effects of Preheating of Crude Jatropha Oil on Performance and Emission of a Diesel Engine 

Author Name  : R. Ragu, G. Ramadoss , Sukumar Puhan , V.Edwin Geo 

Synopsis  : 

Jatropha oil is one of the vegetable oils that haves potential for use as fuels for diesel engines. But at room temperature (30—320C) Jatropha has a viscosity about 10 times higher than that of diesel. To lower viscosity to the level of diesel’s viscosity, a heating temperature of at least 1800C is needed. At this temperature, there is a concern that the close-fitting parts of the injection system might be affected. This study focused on finding out the effects of preheating of fuel on the performance and emissions of a DI diesel engine.  Results show that preheating of Jatropha oil lowered emissions compared to Jatropha oil. However, heating is necessary for smooth flow and to avoid fuel filter clogging. Both can be achieved by heating Jatropha oil to 1800C. Over  the  entire  load  range,  preheated Jatropha oil combustion  produced  lower  CO  and  HC  emissions  that were  30 %  and  25 %   compared  to Jatropha oil. NOX emission is higher about 5 % in the case of preheated oil compared to Jatropha oil.