Engine performance and PM concentrations from the combustion of Iraqi sunflower oil biodiesel under variable diesel engine operating conditions

Abstract

Abstract The most desirable alternative fuels are biodiesel among several of alternative fuels to use in diesel engines. The biodiesel used in this study is sunflowers oil which derived from local renewable sources. Also, biodiesel considered a best alternative to conventional diesel because it clean and environment friendly. The experimental results shown that the biodiesel blends (B20, B50, and B100) increased the brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) compared with pure diesel fuel. According to the results, it is indicated that the biodiesel blends reduced the brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and exhaust gas temperatures (EGT) during the combustion of B20, B50, and B100 for all engine operating conditions. The exhaust gas temperature and BSFC increased with increase the operating conditions of engine loads and speeds. The data indicated that PM concentrations reduced with biodiesel blends combustion compared with diesel under variable engine loads and speeds. Besides that the concentrations of PM reduced by 16.847, 28, and 43.34% combustion of B20, B50, and B100, when compared with petroleum diesel under the same conditions of engine loads and speeds. The results give insight that the oxygen content in the biodiesel has favourable effect on reducing the PM concentrations.