Investigation of Performance Characteristics of Diesel Engine Fuelled with Diesel-Kerosene Blends

1 Mechanical Engineering Department Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria. 2 Mechanical Engineering Department Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, Nigeria. Corresponding Author: O. Obodeh __________________________________________________________________________________________ Abstract The techno-economic effects of diesel-kerosene blends on the operation of a direct ignition (DI) diesel engine were investigated using a stationary LD 20-D !issan diesel engine. Standard experimental procedures were adopted. The values of pressure data of all petroleum fuel blends were higher when compared with that obtained when the engine was run on diesel fuel. However, due to the deterioration of combustion process caused by too much kerosene at 40% kerosene mixing, pressure data for 30% kerosene blend were higher than that at 40% kerosene blend from about 80 degrees after top dead centre. The exhaust gas temperature at 100% rated load was 16.7% higher at 30% kerosene blend as compared with that obtained with diesel fuel. Brake power increased with rated load for all the fuel blends. The brake power at 100% rated load was 19.8% higher at 30% kerosene blend than that obtained when the engine was run on diesel fuel. Specific fuel consumption at 100% rated load was 7.5% lower at 30% kerosene blend than that obtained when compared with diesel fuel. It was deduced that the use of 30% kerosene along with diesel fuel will result in 10% saving on fuel cost. __________________________________________________________________________________________