Performance evaluation of Rice Bran Biodiesel in CI Engine

Biodiesel comes in use due to fossil oil crisis and environmental issues. Biodiesel is a renewable replacement of petroleum fuel due to economic and environmental benefits. In this study, Rice Bran a waste product of the rice milling industry is used for biodiesel production. India has abundant availability of rice bran oil. This study has conducted to evaluate the properties of rice bran biodiesel and effect of rice bran bio-diesel and diesel blend on the performance and emission characteristics of C.I. engine. The biodiesel blends are B20, B40, and B60 on a volume basis performed at different load conditions and compared with diesel. The result shows that biodiesel blend B40 shows better performance parameters than B20, B60. At full load B40 has 24.4% brake thermal efficiency (BTE) which is more than diesel. So Rice Bran biodiesel B40 blend can be used in engine without modification. The results also showed that Carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reduces up to 40% in case of biodiesel than that of diesel. Unburned hydrocarbons (HC) reduce up to 50% in case of biodiesel blends. So rice bran oil biodiesel is renewable and eco-friendly fuel.

Dr S.K. Mahla is working as Assistant Professor in Department of Mechanical Engineering at I.K. gujral Punjab Technical University Campus, Hoshiarpur. Dr. S.K. Mahla is a recipient of DST-SERB Young Scientist Scheme Project in 2014. His research interests are IC Engines, Alternate Fuels & Renewable Energy Technologies.