Experimental Investigation on Combustion and Performance Characteristics of DI Diesel Engine Using Waste Cooking Oil Biodiesel Blends

The hefty prices of raw materials are the greatest hurdle to biodiesel's adoption as an alternate fuel. While waste cooking oil offers a cost-effective solution, it poses challenges in disposal and the potential for contamination. These factors lead waste cooking oil to a promising alternative. Waste cooking oil biodiesel blends have therefore been developed and employed to evaluate their impact on engine combustion and performance parameters. In the present experimental study, a catalytic transesterification process was used to produce biodiesel (waste cooking oil). Biodiesel was blended with diesel in three proportions (W10–10% waste cooking oil blend 90% diesel, W20–20% waste cooking oil blend 80% diesel, and W30–30% waste cooking oil blend 70% diesel). In-cylinder pressure, rate of pressure rise, net heat release, cumulative heat release, mean gas temperature, ignition delay, brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC), and brake thermal efficiency (BTE) were among the combustion and performance parameters that were analysed on a diesel engine at five engine loads (20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%). The percentage of biodiesel in the blend was increased, which improved the values of combustion and performance parameters. The optimal blend in terms of combustion and performance parameters was found to be W30. In comparison to diesel, W30 had a 13% shorter ignition delay, 22% lower net heat release, 10% slower rate of pressure rise, 2% higher BTE, and 1% lower BSFC. Therefore, biodiesel blends with a high concentration may prove to be a viable substitute for diesel fuel. 034.