Use of biogas as diesel engine fuel

Abstract

The investigation was carried out in a two cylinder four stroke cycle diesel engine (17,65 kW) with a rated speed of 1500 rev/min. The gaseoUs inixture of alternative fuel (Natural gas) and COl of different compositions were used in the engine to predict the performance of the engine running with the biogas of same composition. The proportion of natural gas and COl were varied in the gaseoUs mixture by two methods. namely: fixed COl percentage method and varied COl percentage method. Gaseous mixture of 10 per cent and 20 per cent COl were used to run the engine at full load and speed (1500 rev/min). These percentages were inaintained constant throughout the experiment u~ing fixed COl percentage method. Rere-in the brake specific fuel consumption (Bsfc) of the engihe was examihed. Brake specific fuel consumption was considered as the ratio of the total fUel flow rate (diesel flow rate + diesel equIvalent gaseous mixture flow rate) to brake power. Bsfc increased by 14 per cent from full diesel operation to 56 per cent substitution of diesel by gaseous mixture of 10 per cent COl' Similar increase in Bsfc was found. in case of 51 per cent substitution of diesel by gaseous mixture of 20 percent COl where it increased by 20 per cent from full diesel operation .