Essence of Thermal Analysis to Assess Biodiesel Combustion Performance

Vinay Atgur, G. Manavendra, Nagaraj R. Banapurmath (), Boggarapu Nageswar Rao, Ali A. Rajhi, T. M. Yunus Khan (), Chandramouli Vadlamudi, Sanjay Krishnappa, Ashok M. Sajjan and R. Venkatesh
Additional contact information
Vinay Atgur: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Vaddeswaram 522302, India
G. Manavendra: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bapuji Institute of Engineering and Technology (BIET), Davangere 577055, India
Nagaraj R. Banapurmath: Department of Mechanical Engineering, K.L.E. Technological University, BVB Campus, Hubballi 580031, India
Boggarapu Nageswar Rao: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Vaddeswaram 522302, India
Ali A. Rajhi: Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
T. M. Yunus Khan: Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
Chandramouli Vadlamudi: Aerosapien Technologies, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, USA
Sanjay Krishnappa: Aerosapien Technologies, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, USA
Ashok M. Sajjan: Department of Chemistry, Centre of Excellence in Material Science, K.L.E. Technological University, BVB Campus, Hubballi 580031, India
R. Venkatesh: Department of Chemistry, Centre of Excellence in Material Science, K.L.E. Technological University, BVB Campus, Hubballi 580031, India

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 18, 1-23

Abstract: The combustion phenomena are always complex in nature due to the involvement of complex series and parallel reactions. There are various methods that are involved in analyzing combustion phenomena. Viscosity is the first and foremost factor that acts as the DNA of fuel. By evaluating the viscosity, it is possible initially to understand the combustion phenomena. Thermophysical and transport properties are helpful during the intensification of the combustion process. Combustion experiments are economically infeasible and time-consuming processes. Combustion simulations demand excellent computational facilities with detailed knowledge of chemical kinetics. So far, the majority of researchers have focused on analyzing coal combustion phenomena, whereas less work has been carried out on liquid fuels, especially biodiesel combustion analysis. Traditional engine testing provides only performance parameters, and it fails to have oversight of the thermodynamic aspects. The application of thermal analysis methods in combustion research is useful in the design, modeling, and operation of the systems. Such investigations are carried out extensively in the combustor, engine, and process industries. The use of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG) to assess the properties of biofuels has been attracting researchers in recent years. The main objective of this paper is to discuss the application of TGA and DSC to analyze heat flow, enthalpy, thermal stability, and combustion indexes. Moreover, this paper reviews some of the other aspects of the kinetics of combustion, transport properties’ evaluation, and combustion simulations for biodiesels and their blends. TG curves indicate two phases of decomposition for diesel and three phases for biofuel. The B-20 blend’s (20% biodiesel and 80% diesel) performance was found to be similar to that of diesel with the combustion index and intensity of combustion nearly comparable with diesel. It is thermally more stable with a high offset temperature, confirming a longer combustion duration. A case study reported in this work showed diesel and B20 JOME degradation start from 40 °C, whereas jatropha oil methyl ester (JOME) degradation starts from 140 °C. JOME presents more decomposition steps with high decomposition temperatures, indicative of more stable compound formation due to the oxidation process. The peak temperature of combustion for diesel, JOME, and B20 JOME are 250.4 °C, 292.1 °C, and 266.5 °C, respectively. The ignition index for the B-20 blend is 73.73% more than that of diesel. The combustion index for the B20 blend is 37.81% higher than diesel. The B20 blend exhibits high enthalpy, better thermal stability, and a reduced peak temperature of combustion with an improved combustion index and intensity of combustion nearly comparable to diesel.

Keywords: biodiesel; combustion; thermal behavior analysis; simulation; TGA; DSC; vegetable oil; diesel engine performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/18/6622/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/18/6622/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:18:p:6622-:d:911592

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().