Exergy and Energy analysis of a Dual Fuel Engine Fueled With Karanja Biodiesel and Producer Gas Using DEE as Cetane Enhancer

Abstract

The present thesis focusses on addressing to the faster depletion of fossil fuel and environmental pollution in addition to the energy crisis that hinders the progress of a nation. Towards this end, extensive laboratory experiments were conducted for production of producer gas from eucalyptus wood by adopting gasification process. Then, the producer gas was used for running of a twin cylinder, 4 stroke, water cooled diesel engine in dual fuel mode. UBG was inducted in three different flow rates (0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 kg h-1) at the inlet manifold of the engine. In the next set of investigations, the un-coated piston and valves of the diesel engine were replaced with yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) coated piston and valves to observe its influence on engine performance, combustion and emission characteristics. newlineThe combustion characteristics, engine performance and emission characteristics, at full load operations with dual fuel mode were seen to be important function of the UBG flow rates. The brake thermal efficiency (BTE), brake specific energy consumption (BSEC), exhaust gas temperature, smoke opacity, CO and HC emissions, the peak value of mean combustion temperature (MCT), cylinder pressure and rate of heat release (RHR) were found to be affected by altering the UBG flow rates. It was observed that, at full load operation, the engine exhibited a drop in BTE in dual fuel mode by 23, 29 and 34% for UBG flow rates 0.6, 0.8 and 1 kg h-1 respectively as compared to base results of diesel alone operation. As a consequence of this, BSEC increased by 23, 24 and 30% for the respective flow rates of UBG. The exergy efficiency also decreased with increase in destruction of exergy at all engine loads for dual fuel operation. This emphasized the adaptation of advanced technology for improved performance of dual fuel engine, combatting the poor combustion characteristics of biogas. newlineThe engine performance with coated engine in dual fuel mode, was seen to have improved compared to uncoated engine. The coated engine was found to