The Effects of EGR on the Performance and Exhaust Emissions of a Diesel Engine Operated on Diesel Oil and Soybean Oil Methyl Ester (SOME)

Bio-diesel is an attractive alternative fuel which is renewable, non-toxic, and offer potential reduction of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emission due to higher oxygen content.Biodiesel can be easily blended with petroleum diesel to create biodiesel blends, and is free of sulphur.Emission control has become one of the most important challenges in diesel engine.The aim of the present work is to reduce NOx emissions of a diesel engine.Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) is one of the most effective ways for reducing NOx emissions in diesel engine.A single cylinder four stroke direct injection water cooled diesel engine is operated with soybean oil methyl ester (SOME) and neat diesel and EGR which replaces a fraction of incoming air during suction.Three observations are made for performance and exhaust gas emission analysis using 0% EGR, 5% EGR and 10% EGR.The rotational speed of the engine is kept as constant at 1500 rpm.The performance of the engine in terms of specific fuel consumption, and brake thermal efficiency and emission characteristics such as oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbon and smoke density is compared.The observations revel that, biodiesel with EGR can be used to reduce NOx and smoke intensity simultaneously.