Impact of Castor Blended Biodiesel on Engine Power and Exhaust Emissions

These days, research is being done to identify energy alternatives to match the growing need for fossil fuels. The research subjects are the synthesis of Biodiesel from castor oil and its impact on the indicated mean and brake power. Additionally, it has been noted that exhaust gas emissions can be controlled by utilizing castor-mixed oil. The study analyzes the diesel engine's performance characteristics when producing Biodiesel with various castor oil blends. Research is done on combinations B10D90, B20D80, B30D70, and B40D60. Biodiesel is made by employing NaOH as a catalyst in the transesterification process. Castor oil is mixed with NaOH and methanol and then allowed to react for an hour at 60 °C. The study is carried out on Research Diesel having power 3.50 kW @ 1500 rpm, which is 1 Cylinder, four-stroke, Constant Speed, Water Cooled, Diesel Engine, with Cylinder Bore 87.50 (mm), Stroke Length 110.00 (mm), Connecting Rod length 234.00 (mm), Compression Ratio 18.00, Swept volume 661.45 (cc). This engine is a four-stroke, single-cylinder, constant-speed, water-cooled diesel engine. Blending is done at 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% of diesel. The available studies research paper specifies that the bsfc is lower in the case of 20% diesel blending. It is also observed that on decreasing the speed (rpm) and increasing the load (Kg), the value of IMEP and BMEP increases and FMEP decreases. At 1458 rpm and 3.07 kg load, IMEP is 4.07 bar, BMEP is 1.06 bar, and FMEP is 3.02 bar, whereas on decreasing the speed up to 1410 rpm and increasing the load to 11.89 kg, the value of IMEP reaches 6.67 bar, BMEP at 4.10 bar and FMEP at 2.57 bar. The engine's exhaust emission is also analyzed, and it was observed that the exhaust emissions are optimum at complete load conditions in the case of the B20D80 blend.