Experimental Investigations on Combustion and Vibration Analysis of an Indirect Injection Diesel Engine Fuelled With Palm Methyl Ester (PME) and 1, 4-Dioxane as an Additive

Research on various bio-fuels has been carried out as an alternate to the fossil fuels as the geological survey has indicated depletion of fossil fuel reserves in the near future. In the present work, investigations were made to analyse the combustion and vibration characteristics of an indirect injection (IDI) diesel engine fuelled with conventional diesel fuel, Palm Methyl Ester (PME) and 1, 4-Dioxane as an additive in biodiesel at different percentages viz. 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% on volume fraction basis. The net and cumulative heat release rates were calculated on the basis of first law of thermodynamics using pressure-crank angle data, cylinder volume model and process coefficient which varies with the temperature in the combustion chamber. Three strategic points are considered to measure the engine vibration and analysed to obtain information about the nature of combustion since the combustion itself is basic exciter. The vibration studies reveal the combustion propensity with different fuel samples. Time signal plots are recorded on the engine cylinder head in vertical direction of the piston movement to analyse knocking aspect with the fuels tested. Quantum burning is observed in the case of 3 percent additive in biodiesel with more harmonics in the main chamber as per the time waves.