Investigation of the Effects of Rapeseed Methyl Ester and Soybean Methyl Ester Biodiesel Blends on Performance, Emission and Combustion Parameters in Diesel-RK Software

Abstract

The usage of biodiesel as fuel in compression ignition engines is quite common and interest is increasing due to the absence of any changes on the engine, high oxygen content and improvement in combustion. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of adding low amounts of soybean methyl ester and rapeseed methyl ester biodiesel to neat diesel fuel on engine emissions, performance and some combustion parameters. In the study, the numerical model was made using Diesel-RK software. As fuel, diesel fuel, 5% and 20% soybean methyl ester (SME5 and SME20) and 5% and 20% rapeseed methyl ester (RME5 and RME20) biodiesel fuels were used. In this study, the engine speed was selected at 1250, 1500, 1750, 2000 and 2250 rpm. The effects of blend fuels on engine torque, specific fuel consumption, exhaust temperature, particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions according to different engine speeds were examined. In addition, its effect on in-cylinder maximum temperature and pressure, combustion duration and pressure increase rate were evaluated. Looking at the results, both biodiesel blends at different ratios increased the fuel consumption and decreased the engine torque compared to diesel. Especially with SME20 and RME20 fuels, improvement in combustion and therefore lower particulate matter and higher NOx emissions have been achieved. Especially with SME20 and RME20 fuels, improvement in combustion and therefore lower particulate matter and higher NOx emissions have been achieved. The high oxygen content in both biodiesels was effective in this situation.