Environmental and energy impacts of lychee seed biodiesel blends with acetylene fumigation in a dual-fuel diesel engine
Ravikumar Jayabal
Abstract
• Energy utilization from lychee fruits waste seed is extensively studied. • Acetylene was used in dual-fuel mode as an ignition enhancer. • Acetylene energy share is 14.76% for 2 LPM and 28.16% for 4 LPM. • Acetylene induction at 2 and 4 LPM enhanced BTE by 28.98% and 46.54% than diesel. • CO 2 , CO, HC and Smoke emissions decreased in dual-fuel mode. This study investigates dual-fuel diesel engine performance and emission characteristics by utilizing lychee seed biodiesel (LSB) with acetylene gas fumigation into the intake manifold. The primary objective is to evaluate the possibility of acetylene fumigation to enhance engine efficiency and reduce harmful emissions related baseline diesel. Initially, the diesel fuel test was conducted to obtain baseline performance metrics at standard operating conditions. Then, the test was carried out with various loads (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) at a constant speed of 1500 rpm fuelled in LSB with acetylene gas at the flow rates of 2 and 4 litres per minute (LPM) to assess its impact on engine performance and emissions characteristics. The results demonstrated a significant increase in cylinder pressure and heat release rate (HRR), with improvements in brake thermal efficiency (BTE) of 28.98% and 46.54% at 2 LPM and 4 LPM, respectively. Furthermore, emissions such as carbon dioxide (CO2) decreased by 14.57% and 25.71%, carbon monoxide (CO) decreased by 47.4% and 72.4%, hydrocarbons (HC) decreased by 24.07% and 33.33%, and smoke opacity decreased by 21.92% and 36.59% compared to diesel at full load. However, the NOx emissions were increased by 36.69% and 57.48% at 2 and 4 LPM flow rates compared to diesel. Incorporating acetylene gas into lychee seed biodiesel significantly enhances engine performance and reduces emissions, indicating its potential as a viable alternative to diesel fuel. This research emphasizes the importance of exploring alternative fuels to mitigate environmental pollution and improve the sustainability of diesel engine operations.