Experimental Investigation OF GROUNDNUT OILCAKE EXTRACT BLENDED DIESEL FUEL IN CI DI ENGINE

The present work has focused on residual fatty substances available in ground nut oil cake and attempt has been made to blend the extracts of oil cake with diesel at different proportions namely 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% by weight added to known volume of diesel without any engine modification. This new fuel is investigated in the diesel engine and its performance and emission characteristics are determined. The physical and fuel properties are determined as per ASTM standards and found to be within the limits prescribed for biodiesel. The quality of all blends is evaluated using gas chromatography and found to have esters of fatty acids similar to groundnut oil. It has been observed that the presence of wax, triglycerides, free fatty acids and molecular oxygen in the fatty substances help in improving the combustion causing reduction in HC, CO and smoke density. However it is observed that there is a marginal increase in NOx emission. With regards to brake thermal efficiency, 15% oil cake extract diesel blend gives better efficiency than neat diesel and other blends.