International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)
Web Site: www.ijaiem.org Email: editor@ijaiem.org, editorijaiem@gmail.com
Volume 3, Issue 2, February 2014
ISSN 2319 - 4847
INVESTIGATIONS INTO EMMISSION
CHARECTERESTICS OF LHR ENGINE
USING PALM STEARN METHYL ESTER
OIL WITH A MODIFIED PISTON
GEOMETRY
S.Venkata Lakshmi1, Dr.K.Vijaya Kumar Reddy2
1
Research scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, JNTUHCEH, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, India.
2
Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, JNTUHCEH, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, India.
Abstract
In this context it is learnt that the liquid fuels are more suitable fuels because of their high energy content per unit volume, easy
for handling and distribution. The most suitable and available alternative fuels are alcohols and vegetable oils. Due to low cetane
number, alcohols are not suitable for direct use in diesel engines. Majority of vegetable oils, having properties closer to diesel,
can be used directly in existing CI engines. Vegetable oils typically have large molecules with carbon, hydrogen and oxygen being
present. They have chemical structure similar to diesel fuel with different bond structure leads to higher molecular mass and
viscosity. At present the market price of vegetable oils are higher than diesel. However it is anticipated that in near future the cost
will be reduced as a result of developments in agricultural methods and oil extraction techniques.
In the present work an attempt is made to improve the emission of CI diesel engine using Vegetable oil ester. Hence in this work
palm stern methyl ester is used with a modified piston geometry and LHR using concepts. The experiments are carried out on a 4stroke single cylinder CI diesel engine of 5.2 KW. The experiments are conducted repeatedly with diesel fuel and palm stern
methyl ester. Since these oils have slightly longer ignition delay, The low heat rejection engine concept is used in this work. In
order to convert the base engine as LHR engine the piston crown is coated with partially stabilized zirconium PSZ of 0.5 mm
thickness. From the results it is observed that the modified piston geometry with LHR engine concept has considerably given
superior all round emission characteristics.
Keywords: Emmission, Lhr Engine, Palm Stearn Methyl Ester Oil, Piston Geometry, PSZ.
1. INTRODUCTION
The consumption of petroleum has been increased tremendously in both industries and transport sector. For economic
development of any country these two sectors are very important. It is learnt that day by day the increase in demand of
fossil fuels leads to exhaust of petroleum products in near future. So the time has come to identify alternative fuels for
diesel such that they may serve as fossil fuels, which are depleting at much faster rate than expected. And also the rising
prices of petroleum products and environmental concern led to intensive studies on use of alternative fuels.
There is lack of sufficient oil reserves in India. Because of growing demand of petroleum products our government
spending billions of dollars for their imports. Though diesel engines play a vital and indispensable role in today’s modern
life, it contributes to pollution substantially.
An intensive search is being carried in developing diesel engine fuels and lubricants based on vegetable oils. Therefore it
is the right time to search for alternative fuels. The vegetable oils are renewable and are produced easily in rural areas. Its
usage has been studied even since the advent of the internal combustion engine. However it is only recent years focused
much on usage of vegetable oils. Since they have properties comparable to diesel fuel, they may be used in compression
ignition engine. In this connection several researchers had been working continuously using different vegetable oils with
slight modifications on engine and also with varied fuel properties. The problems associated with vegetable oils like high
viscosity, filter clogging, flame propagation has led to more alternative by researchers[1-5]
There is limited reserve of the fossil fuels and the world has already faced the energy crisis of seventies concerning
uncertainties in their supply. Fossil fuels are currently the dominant global source of CO2 emissions and their combustion
is stronger threat to clean environment. Increasing industrialization, growing energy demand, limited reserve of fossil
fuels and increasing environmental pollution have jointly necessitating in exploring some alternative to conventional
liquid fuels. Internal combustion engines particularly of the compression ignition (CI) type are playing a major role in
Volume 3, Issue 2, February 2014
Page 78
International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)
Web Site: www.ijaiem.org Email: editor@ijaiem.org, editorijaiem@gmail.com
Volume 3, Issue 2, February 2014
ISSN 2319 - 4847
transportation, industrial power generation and in the agricultural sector. There is a need to search in using alternative
fuels. These fuels are to be renewable and emit low levels of gaseous and particulate pollutants in internal combustion
engines. In the case of agricultural applications, fuels that can be produced in rural areas in a decentralized manner, near
the consumption points will be favored.
Most suitable esterified vegitable oil is selected with a modified piston geometry. The choosen esterified vegitable oil and
the piston are tested in LHR test engine. In this the modified piston is coated with partially stabilized zirconium (PSZ)
and the insulation thickness employed in 0.5mm. The coating material, methodology and parameters selected are proven
to be one of the best suitable sets of laboratory test engines. However their viscosity values are higher but can easily be
overcome by heating them. Since these oils have slightly longer ignition delay, they are most suitable to use in low heat
rejection engine. The PSME oil is tried in the LHR test engine[6-12].
2. RESULTS PERTAINING TO LHR ENGINE USING PALM STEARN METHYL ESTER OIL
The base engine is converted as LHR engine by providing insulator to the piston head. In this modified piston choosen
using PSME as fuel. The results obtained are processed to examine and evaluate the required parameters.
2.1. EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATURE
The comparison of Exhaust Gas Temperature with engine output for the configuration of modified piston geometry is
shown in Fig. 1 It is observed that the exhaust gas temperature increases in the engine output increase in both low heat
rejection and standard base engines. Due to the insulation of the engine cylinder, the exhaust gas temperatures are bound
to be higher in low heat rejection engines. Because of better insulation provided to the standard engine converting into
low heat rejection engine, the rise in exhaust gas temperature is obtained. The maximum exhaust gas temperature is
obtained with low heat rejection engine of Palm Stearn Methyl Ester is about 514.8 and is higher that that of diesel of a
standard engine is 459.73.
2.2. CARBON MONOXIDE
The variations of carbon monoxide emission levels with engine output are shown in Fig. 2 for both low heat rejection
engine and standard base engine. The CO emission levels with low heat rejection engine of Palm Stearn Methyl Ester is
lower than that of diesel with standard base engine. It is observed that at medium load operation CO emission levels are
almost same for three cases. At rated load operation the CO emissions obtained are less and are about 0.215. This is due
to better complete combustion of process at high wall temperature.
2.3. HYDROCARBON
The comparison between hydrocarbon emission and engine output is shown in Fig. 3. It is observed that the HC emissions
obtained are almost steady at medium load operation. The HC emissions increases at closure to rated load operation
maximum load and are maximum with Palm Stearn Methyl Ester of standard base engine. However the HC emission is
minimum with Palm Stearn Methyl Ester of low heat rejection engine and is about 38. This is due to minimum heat loss
from the combustion chamber to cooling media.
2.4. OXYGEN LEVELS
The variation of oxygen level with engine output is shown in Fig. 4. It is learnt that the oxygen component decreases as
the engine output increases. The oxygen level for palm stearn methyl ester with LHR engines is comparatively low and is
about 11.18. This is due to the presence of oxygen concentration in the dilute mixture. Generally the wall temperatures
obtained for LHR engine is high compared to standard base engine leads to proper mixing of air and fuel vapour in the
cylinder.
2.5. CARBON DI OXIDE
The Fig.5 shows the comparison between carbon di oxide emission levels with engine output for the modified piston
geometry using diesel, palm stearn methyl ester, and also palm stearn methyl ester with LHR engine. It is observed that
the CO2 emission obtained are gradually increased from zero load to rated load operation. The CO2 emission obtained for
palm staern methyl eater with LHR engine are higher than the standard base engine using diesel fuel this is due to better
and complete combustion of mixture in the cylinder. This has been taken place with better insulation of combustion
chamber which results in controlling the self ignition temperature of the cylinder within the limits.
2.6. NOX EMISSIONS
The variation of oxides of nitrogen emission obtained with brake power for both standard base engine and LHR engine
are shown in Fig. 6. It is observed that the NOX emissions obtained with palm stearn methyl ester of LHR engine are
almost same comparative standard base engine of diesel fuel. The NOX emissions obtained are maximum with palm
Volume 3, Issue 2, February 2014
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International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)
Web Site: www.ijaiem.org Email: editor@ijaiem.org, editorijaiem@gmail.com
Volume 3, Issue 2, February 2014
ISSN 2319 - 4847
stearn methyl ester of normal base engine and are about 1474. Generally the NOX emissions high for diesel engines by its
nature known for heterogeneous mixture. In these circumstances the temperature produced within the combustion
chamber is in steady sate condition. Hence the proper combustion will takes place even with non uniform fuel
distribution.
exaust gas temparature©
550
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
DIESEL
PSME
PSMEL
BP9KW)
0
1
2
3
4
5
BP(KW)
carbon m onoxide(%)
Fig.1 Break power vs exhaust gas temperature
0.35
0.3
0.25
DIESEL
0.2
PSME
0.15
PSMEL
0.1
0.05
0
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
B P ( K W)
Fig.2 Break power vs CO emissions
45
hydrocarbon(PPM)
40
35
30
DIESEL
25
PSME
20
PSMEL
15
10
5
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
BP(KW)
Fig.3 Break power vs HC emissions
20
oxygen(%)
18
DIESEL
16
PSME
14
PSMEL
12
10
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
BP(KW )
Fig.4 Break power vs O2 emissions
Volume 3, Issue 2, February 2014
Page 80
International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)
Web Site: www.ijaiem.org Email: editor@ijaiem.org, editorijaiem@gmail.com
Volume 3, Issue 2, February 2014
ISSN 2319 - 4847
carbon di oxide(%)
7
6
5
DIESEL
4
PSME
3
PSMEL
2
1
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
BP(KW)
Fig.5 Break power vs carbon dioxide
Oxides of Nitrogen
1750
1500
1250
DIESEL
1000
PSME
750
PSMEL
500
250
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
BP(KW)
Fig.6 Break power vs NOx emissions
3. CONCLUSIONS
In view of the plight of the energy crisis, in this work an attempt is made into investigation of using alternative fuels in
particular estrified vegetable oils as substitute fuels to diesel fuel. It is learnt that any kind of vegetable oil is inferior to
diesel fuel in all aspects like performance, emission and combustion parameters. Hence in this work a new piston design
is used in LHR engine concept to enhance afore said parameters. The esterified vegetable oil used as substitute fuel to
diesel is palm stearn methyl ester (PSME).
The important physical and chemical properties of the above oil are computed and tested with modified piston. In this
connection the performance, emission and combustion characteristics are evaluated and also their suitability as alternate
fuel to diesel is examined. After conducting a detailed experimentation a successful low heat rejection engine is developed
which can run with PSME oil. In this work the following conclusions are drawn.
The EGT computed with modified piston for PSME is moderate and is about 481.50C in a base engine. Where as with
LHR engine the EGT obtained is about 514.80C. The increase in the EGT with LHR engine is higher than the base engine
and is about 6.07%. This is due to better and complete combustion process with in the stipulated time.
The exhaust emissions like CO, HC, O2, CO2 and NOX at closer to rated load for PSME oil with modified piston of base
engine are 0.321%, 40 ppm, 11.79%, 6.4% and 1474 respectively.
Similarly the exhaust emission like CO, HC, O2, CO2 and NOX at rated load for PSME oil with modified piston of LHR
engine are 0.215%, 38 ppm, 11.48%, 6.28% and 1398 respectively and these levels are lower than that of diesel in
normal engine.
The HC emissions obtained are minimum with modified piston of LHR engine using PSME as fuel and is about 38 ppm.
This is due to minimum heat loss from the combustion chamber to cooling media.
It is observed the CO2 emissions obtained with modified piston for PSME fuel of LHR engine is higher than that of PSME
and diesel fuel of normal engine are 6.28% and 6.4% respectively. This has occurred due to better insulation of
combustion chamber, where it leads to better and complete combustion of mixture in the cylinder.
Volume 3, Issue 2, February 2014
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International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)
Web Site: www.ijaiem.org Email: editor@ijaiem.org, editorijaiem@gmail.com
Volume 3, Issue 2, February 2014
ISSN 2319 - 4847
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