Abstract:
In the past few decades, an alternate source of energy has been the growing concern with respect to
environment and energy reserves utilization. Also the enhancement of industrialization and motorization at
global level has strengthened further towards the alternate energy sources like bio fuels etc. The objective of the
research work was to effectively reduce the nitrogen oxides (NOX) emissions with the combination of exhaust
gas recirculation (EGR) and three-way catalytic converter fuelled with diesel, jatropha biodiesel (JBD) and
their blends at full load of indirect injection (IDI) diesel engines. The engine was tested by diesel, 100%
biodiesel (JB 100), blends of 80% diesel and 20% biodiesel (JB 20) and other blends like JB 40, JB 60 and JB
80. The engine characteristics with jatropha biodiesel were compared against those obtained using diesel fuel.
From results it is observed that nitrogen oxide emissions of JBD are more than that diesel fuel. These high NOX
emissions are due to the presence of unsaturated fatty acids and the advanced injection caused by the higher
bulk modulus of JBD and their blends. A four stroke single cylinder water cooled IDI diesel engine was used for
investigation. Nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and smoke were recorded and various engine
performance parameters were also evaluated. The results and discussion based on the effect of emission
controlling systems on engine performance and emission characteristics of JB 100, JB 80, JB 60, JB 40, JB 20
and diesel fuel without emission controlling systems. The performance parameters and nitrogen oxide emissions
are measured and recorded for diesel fuel, JBD and their blends. The results showed that at 5% EGR + three
way catalytic converter for JB 100, at 40% EGR + three way catalytic converter for JB 80, JB60 and JB 40. And
at 35% EGR + three way catalytic converter for JB 20 and diesel fuels, the N0x emissions effectively reduced
compared to without emission controlling devices.
