Performance and Emission Studies of Castor Bean (Ricinus Communis) Oil Biodiesel and Its Blends with Diesel Fuel

Abstract

An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the use of various blends of castor (Ricinus Communis) oil methyl ester with diesel fuel. Performance and exhaust emissions of castor oil biodiesel with diesel fuel in a commercial compression ignition engine were presented in this study. Biodiesel produced from castor oil was blended with diesel fuel at the volumetric ratios of 5% (B5), 10% (B10), 25% (B25), 50% (B50), and 100% (B100). Fuel properties of castor oil methyl ester and its blends with diesel fuel were stated. The performance results showed that blends of castor oil methyl ester with diesel provided an increase on brake specific fuel consumption and a small decrease on brake power output. Compared with diesel fuel, diesel-castor oil methyl ester blends showed that while the carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emissions became reduced; the oxides of nitrogen emissions observed higher than diesel fuel emission characteristics. Test results showed that B25 was determined as a suitable alternative fuel for diesel engines.