Thermal balance of a single cylinder diesel engine operating on alternative fuels E.A. Ajav a, *, Bachchan Singh b , T.K. Bhattacharya c a Department of Agriculture Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria b College of Technology, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar 263145, U.P., India c Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar 263145, U.P., India Received 8 May 1999; accepted 29 October 1999 Abstract The thermal balance of a constant speed stationary compression ignition engine operating on diesel, ethanol±diesel blends and fumigated ethanol was established at dierent loading conditions of the engine. The thermal balance was in respect of useful work, heat lost to cooling water, heat lost through exhaust, heat carried away by the lubricating oil and other losses (unaccounted-for losses). The results indicate that the thermal balance of the engine operating on 5 and 10% ethanol±diesel blends and fumigated ethanol was not signi®cantly dierent at the 5% level of signi®cance when compared to diesel. However, in the case of 15 and 20% ethanol±diesel blends, the thermal balance was signi®cantly dierent compared to diesel. 7 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Thermal balance; Alternative fuels; Ethanol±diesel blends 1. Introduction Alcohols have continued to receive worldwide attention as alternative fuels in spite of surpluses in crude oil. Methanol has been targeted as the fuel of the future on the basis of its low cost of production, while support for the use of ethanol has increased in recent years, in the wake of anti-pollution regulations, owing to its anti-knock properties and higher miscibility Energy Conversion & Management 41 (2000) 1533±1541 0196-8904/00/$ - see front matter 7 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. PII: S0196-8904(99)00175-2 www.elsevier.com/locate/enconman * Correspondence author. Tel.: +234-2-810-1100 ext. 1695; fax: +234-2-810-3043. E-mail address: ivcuaf@mail.skannet.com (E.A. Ajav).