DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v28i3.26

Keywords: Botryococcus braunii algae, transesterification, engine characteristics, green fuel, curcumin nano additives

Abstract

The present work experimentally investigated the single cylinder diesel engine characteristics fueled with green energy from Botryococcus Braunii micro algae. Aquatic unicellular green algae have a high growth rates and high population densities in sea. Mechanical expeller is used to covert the algae into oil at normal temperature and pressure. Due to higher viscosity, higher flash point and low calorific value of algae oil is not suitable for diesel engine fuel. So, it can be converted into biodiesel using transesterification process with help of KOH as a catalyst and ethanol as a solvent. After the transesterification process, the oil reduced the viscosity, flash point and increased calorific value compared with algae oil. Prepared the test fuel samples for different blends ratios like B10, B20 and B30. Analyses the physical and chemical properties of the test fuel as per the ASTM standard compared with diesel presented in this paper. A single cylinder direct injection diesel engine producing max power of 3.4 KW at rated speed of 1500 rpm used as test engine with green fuel. The exhaust emission like CO, CO₂, HC, NOx and Smoke are to measure by using AVL 444 DI gas analyzer and AVL 437 Smoke meter. Experimental results proved that B20 as the best blend ratio compared to B10 and B30.In phase 2 the B20 blend is blended with the curcumin nano particle with 25 ppm to 100 ppm to attain the high efficiency and lower emission in the diesel engines. The brake thermal efficiency increased by 6.5 % compared to B20 and B20 with 50ppm curcumin nano additives. The emissions of CO, CO₂, HC, NOx and smoke are reduced by 3.2%, 4.2%, 5.3%, 8.34% and 7.23% compared to B20 blend bio diesel without any engine major modifications are discussed in this paper.