124 Int. J. Exergy, Vol. 13, No. 1, 2013 Copyright © 2013 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. Energy and exergy analyses of a CI engine fuelled with palm biodiesel based on experimental data Rahul Dev Misra*, Jibanananda Jena and M.S. Murthy Mechanical Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology, Silcahr, Assam 788010, India E-mail: misrardnits@gmail.com E-mail: jivanjena@gmail.com E-mail: msmurthy16@gmail.com *Corresponding author Abstract: Only energy analysis is not enough to define the best efficiencies of any system, so exergy analysis uses to understand and improve the actual efficiencies of the whole system. Energy analysis identified the energy losses but could neither identify the irreversible losses nor their location. These are, however, could be clearly explained with the application of exergy analysis. In this study both energy and exergy analyses were performed in a single- cylinder, 4-stroke, 7 bhp, water cooled diesel engine fuelled with petrodiesel as a base fuel and palm biodeisel. The objectives of the analyses are to determine whether the fuel made any significant difference on the efficiencies of the engine. The fuel exergy, exergy loss due to exhaust gases, exergy loss due to cooling water, exergy destruction, and exergetic efficiency of the engine are obtained by using the experimental data at steady-state condition. The results of tested biodiesel showed a similar type energetic performance as petrodiesel fuel. Keywords: palm biodeisel; efficiency; energy analysis; exergy analysis; petrodiesel; CI engine. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Misra, R.D., Jena, J. and Murthy, M.S. (2013) ‘Energy and exergy analyses of a CI engine fuelled with palm biodiesel based on experimental data’, Int. J. Exergy, Vol. 13, No. 1, pp.124–139. Biographical notes: Rahul Dev Misra is working as Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at National Institute of Technology, Silchar (India). His areas of research interests include thermoeconomics, biofuel research, exergy analysis of thermal systems, refrigeration & air-conditioning, etc. He is a graduate in Mechanical Engineering from Jorhat Engineering College under Dibrugarh University. He did his MTech in Energy Studies from IIT Delhi and PhD from IIT Roorkee. He has about 15 numbers of publications in international journals and more than 30 papers in national and international conferences. He has published one book. Jibanananda Jena is presently working as a research scholar in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at National Institute of Technology Silchar, Assam (India). He was also a faculty member in the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Bhadrak Institute of Engineering and Technology at Bhadrak