Inventi Rapid: Combustion Vol. 2014, Issue 4 2014 eco 064, CCC: $10 © Inventi Journals (P) Ltd
Published on Web 24/07/2014, www.inventi.in
RESEARCH ARTICLE
INTRODUCTION
Majority of the world’s energy needs are supplied through
petrochemical source, coal and natural gases, with the
exception of wind power, hydroelectricity and nuclear
energy; of all, these sources are finite and at current usage
rates will be exhausted shortly. Diesel fuels
[1-3]
have an
essential function in the industrial economy of developing
countries and are used for transport of industrial and
agricultural goods, operation of diesel tractor and pump
sets in agricultural sector. Economic growth is always
accompanied by proportionate increase in the transport.
The high energy demand in the industrialized world as well
as in the domestic sector and pollution problems caused
due to the widespread use of petroleum fuels demands to
develop the renewable energy sources of limitless duration
and smaller environmental impact than the traditional one.
This has stimulated recent interest in alternative sources
for petroleum based fuels. Diesel engines are the most
proficient prime movers. From the point of view of
protecting global environment and concerns for long-term
energy security, it becomes necessary to develop
alternative fuels with greater engine performance and
efficiency as that of conventional diesel.
Diesel water emulsions have come into recent field of
study in 1931 by Joseph Vance, up to 40-60% of water was
added to the liquid hydrocarbons fuel. When mixed
directly, diesel being a lighter liquid than water comes to
the top and water settles in the bottom. By using an
appropriate surfactant the molecules of water and diesel
can be emulsified together. Using water mixing agent with
diesel has many benefits on its own. Addition of water also
improves atomization and mixing which is attributed to
droplet micro explosion.
[4-5]
There is also a considerable
proof that adding water to diesel can reduce the CO, NOx,
particulates and smoke emission. In the present study we
have attempted to demonstrate an indicated power, brake
power and friction power based comparison of diesel
1
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, IFTM University, Moradabad-244001,
Uttar Pradesh, India.
E-mail: rahulhpharma@yahoo.co.in
*Corresponding author
2
Department of Mechanical Engineering, IFTM University, Moradadabad-
244001, Uttar Pradesh, India.
3
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Moradabad Institute of
Technology, Moradabad- 244001, Uttar Pradesh, India.
engine efficiency when fueled with water diesel emulsion
fuel and diesel alone. Non ionic surfactants
[6-7]
are
considered biocompatible, efficient emulsifying agents used
in emulsification process
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Engine Specifications
IC Engine set up under test is Research Diesel having power
3.50 kW @ 1600 rpm which is 1 Cylinder, Four stroke,
Constant Speed, Water Cooled, Diesel Engine, with Cylinder
Bore 87.50 (mm), Stroke Length 110.00 (mm), Connecting
Rod length 234.00 (mm), Compression Ratio 16.00, Swept
volume 661.45 (cc).
Combustion Parameters
Specific Gas Const (kJ/kgK): 1.00, Air Density (kg/m^3):
1.20, Adiabatic Index: 1.41, Polytrophic Index: 3.41,
Number of Cycles: 10, Cylinder Pressure Reference: 2,
Smoothing 2, TDC Reference: 0.
Performance Parameters
Orifice Diameter (mm): 20.00, Orifice Coefficient of
Discharge: 0.60, Dynamometer Arm Length (mm): 185,
Fuel Pipe dia (mm): 12.40, Ambient Temp. (°C): 21, Pulses
Per revolution: 360, Fuel Type: Diesel and emulsified
fuel.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Data Analysis
1. Indicated Power (IP)
60 1000
Where, IP= indicated power (kW), I
m
= indicated mean
effective pressure (in bar), V
s
= swept volume (in CC), n =
speed of rotation (in rpm).
Here IP at zero load for diesel (in kW)
60 1000
0 3805 661 45 751 1
60 1000
= 3.15 kW
Now, IP of emulsified fuel at zero load (kW).
Assessing IP, FP and BP of Diesel Engine Fueled with Diesel and
Water-in-Diesel Emulsion Using Different Surfactants
Rahul Rama Hegde
1*
, Prashant Sharma
2
, Pushp Raj
3
, Sunil Kumar
1
, Vaibhav Trivedi
2
Abstract: The intention of this study is to investigate the effect of surfactant over a water-diesel mixture to make an emulsified
fuel. The total surfactant concentration in each of the diesel-water emulsion samples studied (span 20, span 80, tween 20, tween
80) is fixed at 1% w/w. The water content is variable at 5-15% w/w. The non-ionic surfactants used in this study tend to reduce
the interfacial tension between water and diesel giving rise to a new fuel with increased burning efficiency as that of diesel
alone. It is found that brake power, engine power and also the engine torque have been improved with the emulsified fuels for
15% of water content in the water diesel emulsion.
1