Experimental investigation of blue green algal oil as a fuel for ic engine

Abstract

This thesis is focused to develop biodiesel from blue green algae newlineand evaluate its effect on the engine combustion, performance and emission. newlineArthrospira maximum (Spirulina Spp.) was found to be suitable for biodiesel newlineproduction on a large scale. BG11 media composition was identified to be newlinebetter on comparison with Bolds Basal and Paoletti medium. The alga was newlinegrown upto 106 cell count in laboratory scale and transferred to open pond newlinesystem till it reaches 109 cell count. The biomass was harvested, dried and oil newlineextraction was done by combination of solvent extraction method and expeller newlinemethod using n-hexane and ether solution. The remaining oil was extracted by newlineadding cyclohexane. The transesterification process was carried out by adding newlinesodium hydroxide and methanol to form fatty acid methyl ester of algal oil. newlineThe algal oil was standardized using several biochemical techniques includes Thin Layer Chromatography, Gas Chromatography Mass newlineSpectroscopy, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (Carbon NMR and Proton newlineNMR), Fourier Transform Infra Red analysis and elemental analysis. The newlinealgal oil methyl ester were blended in proportions of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% newlineby weight with standard commercial diesel in different proportions by volume newlineand their properties were compared. Further, experimental investigation was conducted in a single newlinecylinder naturally aspirated direct injection compression ignition engine newlinecoupled with eddy current dynamometer. The evaluation was based on newlinecombustion, performance and emission characteristics. The effect of AOME newlineblends on Brake specific energy consumption, Brake thermal efficiency, Incylinder newlinepressure, rate of pressure rise, emission of unburned hydrocarbons, newlinecarbon-monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, smoke and particulates newlinewere studied. The injection timing of the engine was also optimized for better newlineperformance and reduced emissions. newline