Influence of oxygen enrichment on performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of a stationary diesel engine fuelled with Calophyllum Inophyllum biodiesel blend

Biodiesel-fuelled diesel engine with oxygen enrichment technique is one of the promising attempts for improving the performance and combustion characteristics of an engine without compromising emissions. The present study emphasizes the utilization of Calophyllum Inophyllum biodiesel with three different percentages of oxygen rates, namely, 1%, 2%, and 3%, were inducted in the intake manifold of stationary diesel engine; and the results were compared with B20 (without oxygen enrichment) and conventional diesel. Results indicated that biodiesel blend B20 with 2% oxygen enrichment substantially improved the BTE to about 28.1%, which is higher than B20 and diesel fuel. The BTE is improved by 43.5 and 15% as compared with B20 and diesel fuel, respectively. Results also revealed that the cylinder pressure using B20 with 2% oxygen enrichment is improved to about 9.6% with B20 and diesel. The precombustion phase was reduced along with ignition delay, producing longer diffusion phase for all oxygen-enriched fuels. Also, significant reduction in stringent emissions of CO (67% with B20 and 50% with diesel) and smoke (85% with B20 and 63% with diesel) but NO_x emissions were increased. The experimental study reveals that the impact of oxygen enrichment on biodiesel blended fuel offered superior engine characteristics than diesel fuel.