Influences of Algae Biodiesel on Ignition Delay, Combustion Process and Heat Release of Diesel Combustion

Abstract

Fossil fuel depletion and global warning issues have strongly motivated research in fuel production from the biomass. Microalgae biodiesel production has received much interest in an effort for sustainable development as the microalgae seem to be an attractive way to produce the biodiesel due to their ability to accumulate lipids and their very high actual photosynthetic yields. The objective of this research is to investigate effect of algae biodiesel on ignition delay and influence of variant injection pressure and ambient temperature towards ignition delay and emission. Rapid Compression Machine (RCM) is used to simulate a single compression stroke of an internal combustion engine as well as a real engine. Two types of biodiesel blend which are Algae biodiesel (A2) and Jatropha biodiesel (J2) were tested at injection pressure of 80 MPa, 90 MPa and 130 MPa under different ambient temperature, 750 K to 1100 K.  It seems that increasing blending ratio exhibits relatively weakens in fuel ignitibility and therefore prolongs the ignition delay of algae biodiesel. Increased in injection pressure and ambient temperature attributed to shorter ignition delay due to improved air-fuel mixing and the fuel vaporization that enhanced fuel ignitibility. High injection pressure and ambient temperature contributed to high combustion temperature that responsible for increased in emission of NOx but the emission of CO and HC reduced due to complete combustion. Increased blends of biodiesel ratio are found to enhance the combustion process, resulting in increased CO2 emissions