The effect of using alternative fuel derived from biomass wastes on engine performance and emissions

In this thesis study, a research was conducted on the usability of sour cherry kernel pyrolytic oil as a fuel in a compression ignition (CI) test engine, which is obtained by pyrolysis of sour cherry seeds, a biomass waste. First of all, optimization studies were made for the pyrolysis process whereby the maximum oil yield of 29.7% was obtained at 10 °C/min heating rate, 0.5 L/min nitrogen gas flow rate, particle size as broken (≤5mm) particles, 15 min pyrolysis residence time and reactor temperature of 450 °C. As a second step, investigations were made on the fuel mixtures with the most suitable physicochemical properties for the use of the pyrolytic oil obtained as a fuel in an internal combustion diesel engine and the mixed fuels containing 40% diesel by weight were determined as the optimum mixture compositions. Finally, the fuel mixtures obtained by blending the pyrolytic oil, which has the best physicochemical properties, are tested in a single-cylinder and air-cooled diesel engine, and its effects on engine performance and emissions were compared to diesel. Fuel mixtures obtained are more environmentally friendly in terms of NOx, HC and soot emissions compared to diesel which indicates that it can be used as an environmentally friendly alternative fuel in diesel engines.