Comparative study of performance and emission characteristics of a diesel engine fueled by castor biodiesel

Biodiesel is playing an important role in recent years as an alternative fuel for diesel engines. Biodiesel derived from castor oil gives comparable performance and emission characteristics. In this research paper, a comparative study has been done between castor biodiesel blends and diesel fuels. Castor biodiesel was prepared from castor oil by Transesterification process. Diesel-biodiesel blends of 5, 10, 15 and 20% was prepared. Biodiesel blends were tested in a four stroke, single cylinder, diesel engine at a constant speed of 1500 rpm and variable loads. Experimental results of biodiesel blends compared with diesel fuel show that biodiesel provided insignificant increase in fuel consumption, specific fuel consumption, exhaust gas temperature, NOx, CO2 and oxygen concentrations about diesel fuel. Castor biodiesel blends resulted insignificant decrease in thermal efficiency, volumetric efficiency, air-fuel ratio, CO and HC emissions about diesel fuel. Castor biodiesel blends can be used up to 20% with diesel fuel without any engine modifications.