Thermal Balancing of a Multi-Cylinder Diesel Engine Operating on Diesel, B5 and Palm Biodiesel Blends

Abstract

Energy crisis and global warming are the two most important issues that threaten the peaceful existence of the human species.More dependency on alternative fuels and energy loss minimization can be an effective solution to this affair.In this regard, thermal balance study of an internal combustion (IC) engine using different biodiesels is worthy of investigation.This manuscript provides an in-depth analysis of the engine heat losses in different subsystems of the engine.Finally, thermal balancing of the engine has been done by showing all energy flows in and out of the engine.The investigation was conducted in a four cylinder diesel engine fuelled with pure diesel, B5 (5% Palm biodiesel + 95% Diesel), 10% (PB10) and 20% (PB20) palm biodiesel blends at full load and in the speed range 1000 to 4000 RPM.The water heat loss and lubricating oil heat loss increased whereas the engine brake power, exhaust heat loss and unaccounted heat loss decreased with the increase of biodiesel percentage in the blends.