Performance of Pre-heated Cottonseed Oil and Diesel Fuel Blends in a Compression Ignition Engine

Viscosity of vegetable oil is considered a constraint for its use as an alternate fuel for Internal Combustion(IC) engines. In this experimental investigation, the viscosity of cottonseed oil (CSO), which is considered a potential alternate fuel, is reduced by blending it in different proportions with diesel, and its viscosity at various temperatures was analyzed and used as a fuel in a compression ignition (CI) engine. Performance, combustion and emission parameters at various loads were calculated using a single cylinder CI engine and compared with neat diesel and cottonseed oil. A remarkable improvement in the performance of the engine is noticed as the viscosity of the oil is reduced. Brake thermal and volumetric efficiencies of the engine increased with a significant reduction in the exhaust gas temperature. Reductions in smoke, CO and HC emissions are also noticed. Results show that a blend containing 60% of cottonseed oil with diesel, which is heated to a temperature of 70°C, can be used as an alternate fuel without any engine modification.