In this study, experimental investigations on the performance and exhaust emissions of a diesel engine was carried out using Palm oil/Shea butter oil biodiesel as fuel. The two vegetable oils, Shea butter (SB) and Palm oil (PO) were blended in the proportion 25%:75%, 50%:50%, and 75%:25%v/v. The transesterification of the blended oils were carried out using ethanol, with potassium hydroxide as catalyst. The chemo-physical properties of the biodiesels produced were determined experimentally and compared with that of petroleum diesel. Engine performance and emission test were conducted using the engine test bed with the instrumentation unit, emission gas analyzer, and the produced biodiesels as fuel. From the results, it was observed that, the petroleum diesel recorded the highest torque, while biodiesels recorded reduced values of torque at all the loads with the 100%SB and 75%SB: 25%PO biodiesels both recorded the same values of torque at all the loads. The 100%SB biodiesel recorded the highest exhaust temperature, while the petroleum diesel recorded the lowest exhaust temperature at all the loads. Exhaust gas temperature increase as the load increases. Biodiesels showed reduced brake power as compared to petroleum diesel, but the 100%SB and 75%SB: 25%PO both recorded the highest brake power among the biodiesels at all the loads. Biodiesels recorded higher values of BSFC as compared to petroleum diesel, with the 25%SB: 75%PO biodiesel having the highest BSFC at all the loads. The brake thermal efficiency (BTE) of the petroleum diesel was highest as compared to biodiesels at all the loads. The 25%SB: 75%PO and 100%PO biodiesels both recorded the least carbon monoxide (CO) emissions, and CO emissions decreases with increase in loads. The petroleum diesel recorded the highest CO emissions for all the three loads. The carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions increases with increase in loads, with the petroleum diesel recording the least CO2 emissions at all the loads. The petroleum diesel showed increased hydrocarbon (HC) emissions for all the loads, while the 25%SB: 75%PO and 100%PO biodiesels recorded the least HC emission. The 100%SB biodiesel recorded the highest NOx emissions, while the petroleum diesel recorded the least NOx emissions at all the loads. Thus, the 25%SB: 75%PO and 75%SB: 25%PO with improved engine performance and reduced emissions is suitable for use in diesel engine without engine modification.
Transesterification; biodiesel; engine performance; emissions
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