Experimental investigation of Mahua Methyl Ester as an alternative fuel for diesel engine.

Energy consumption increases rapidly due to increase in population. Today, the energy crisis becomes one of the global issues confronting us. It is impossible to satisfy the needs in forthcoming years with fossil fuels itself. So, there is an urgent need for suitable alternative fuels for use in diesel engines. The non edible vegetable oils like Jatropa oil, Karanji or Pongamia oil, Neem oil, Jojoba oil, Mahua oil, Cottonseed oil, Linseed oil are considered as alternate fuels to diesel. Mahua oil which is promising alternative because they have advantages like they are renewable, Eco-friendly and produced easily in rural areas, where there is an acute need for modern forms of energy. In this investigation, Mahua Oil Methyl Ester was prepared by transesterification using Methanol (CH3OH) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as catalyst and it is tested. The test has focused on the performance and emission characteristics of Mahua non-edible vegetable oil and its blend with diesel on a single cylinder diesel engine. The oil blended with diesel in 20/80%, 40/60%, 60/40%, 80/20% and 100% on the volume basis, then analyzed and compared with diesel at different loads at constant rated speed. From the test results showed that brake thermal efficiency of Mahua Oil Methyl Ester (MOME) was comparable with diesel and it was observed that 29.25% for diesel whereas 30.14% for MOME. Emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen and smoke number were considerably reduced in case of MOME compared to diesel. The present analysis reveals that the biofuel from mahua is quite suitable as an alternate fuel to diesel.