Theoretical and experimental investigation of the effects of different alternative fuels on the emission of diesel engines

V ABSTRACT PhD. Thesis THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVE FUELS ON THE EMISSION OF DIESEL ENGINES Cumali İLKILIÇ Fırat University Institute of Science and Technology Mechanical Education Department 1999, Page: 158 Motor vechicles are increasing with the improving technology. Thus the fuel amount consumed is also increasing. Since the fuel sources are limited and these fuels cause air pollution to become serious environment problem, the studies on alternative fuels have been gaining importance. Recent studies showed that vegetable oils could be used as alternative fuels in internal combustion engines. Because Turkey is an agricultural country besides being an industrialized one, in case of vegetable oils used as diesel fuel, it is clear that it will give big economical savings and gains in agriculture. The first chapter of this study is focused on the use of vegetable oils as alternative fuel. In the second chapter methyl esters of sunflower and cotton seed oils are prepared in order of their properties to be similar to of diesel fuel. In the experimental study diesel fuel, the methyl esters of sunflower and cotton seed oils were investigated on the single cylinder diesel engine. The methyl esters of sunflower and cotton seed oils were added to diesel fuel in the rate of 50 percent. In addition these esters were used %100 purely. The effects of these fuels on the engine performances and the products of exhaust emissions were compared in case of fully open throttle, at different injection pressures and in different engine speed.VI From the comparisons it was seen that at lower injection pressures, methyl esters of sunflower and cotton seed oils gave a torque and engine power equal to the diesel fuel and at the other pressures a torque and power close to the diesel fuel. The products of emission methyl esters of these oils were lower than of diesel fuel at all pressures. As a result it was understood that methyl esters of these oils could be used as alternative to diesel fuel. As a result, the result obtained from the use of methyl esters of sunflower and cotton seed oils are seen to be a good cosistent with the ones in the literature. The products of emissions of methyl esters of sunflower and cotton seed oils are lower than of diesel fuels. Key words: Alternative fuel, Vegetable oils, Sunflower oil, Cotton seed oil, Oil acid methyl ester, Disel engines exhaust emissions, Emission measures.