1 3 J Braz. Soc. Mech. Sci. Eng. DOI 10.1007/s40430-016-0696-2 TECHNICAL PAPER Fuel characterization and performance parameters analysis of diesel engine using blends of palm biodiesel and tyre pyrolysis oil R. K. Das 1 · Sunil Kumar Sharma 1 Received: 30 August 2016 / Accepted: 6 December 2016 © The Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering 2016 PB90TPO10 Blend containing 90% POB and 10% TPO by volume PB80TPO20 Blend containing 80% POB and 20% TPO by volume GP Generator power (Watt) BP Brake power (Watt) TFC Total fuel consumption (kg/s) BSFC Brake specific fuel consumption (kg/watt-s) BSEC Brake specific energy consumption (kg/s) FIP Fuel indicated power (watt) η bte Brake thermal efficiency (%) GCV Gross calorific value (MJ/kg) x Weight of the fuel taken in the crucible (kg) y Weight of water in the calorimeter (kg) z Water equivalent of the calorimeter, stirrer, thermometer and bomb (kg) t 1 Initial temperature of water in calorimeter (°C) t 2 Final temperature of water in calorimeter (°C) 1 Introduction In the modern era of increasing industrialization, there has been a constant search for some alternative fuel to meet the increasing demand of the depleting fossil fuels. Under this critical depleting fossil fuel scenario, the term biodiesel is gain- ing much importance [1, 2]. Being an agro-based economy, India depends much on its biomass reserve which comprises agricultural products, rich forest cover and also the wastes derived from domestic households [3]. Much clear picture about the complexity and utility has been achieved by multi- dimensional studies [4, 5]. Biodiesel is defined as the short- chain alkynes (methyl or ethyl) derived by transesterification of Abstract An avalanche consumption of fossil fuels has paved the way for the use of biodiesel as the alternative fuel espe- cially in the automotive sector. In the present study, an experi- mental investigation was made on the potential use of palm biodiesel (PB) and tyre pyrolysis oil (TPO) as the substitute of the conventional petroleum fuels. The results show that the brake thermal efficiency at lower loads of both the fuels, i.e., PB90TPO10 and PB80TPO20, is almost equal, but at the higher loads blend having higher TPO content (PB80TPO20) results in improved brake thermal efficiency. From the brake specific consumption data, it can be concluded that higher TPO content signifies prompt and better combustion of fuel resulting in lower fuel consumption per unit power spent. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of the blends has been conducted to provide an insight structural view of the blends via depicting the functional groups at different spectral peaks. So the present study demonstrates that the performance parameters and the physical properties of the fuel blends are in close confirmation with the conventional diesel and may be considered for future investigations. Keywords Palm biodiesel · Tyre pyrolysis · Combustion · Diesel engine Abbreviations PB Palm Oil Biodiesel TPO Tyre pyrolysis oil Technical Editor: Luis Fernando Figueira da Silva. * Sunil Kumar Sharma sunilsharmaism@gmail.com 1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad 826004, Jharkhand, India