Experimental Investigation on Combined Effect of EGR and Three-way Catalytic Converter for IDI Diesel Engine.

Abstract

In the past few decades, an alternate source of energy has been the growing concern with respect to environment and energy reserves utilization. Also the enhancement of industrialization and motorization at global level has strengthened further towards the alternate energy sources like bio fuels etc. The objective of the research work was to effectively reduce the nitrogen oxides (NOX) emissions with the combination of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and three-way catalytic converter fuelled with diesel, jatropha biodiesel (JBD) and their blends at full load of indirect injection (IDI) diesel engines. The engine was tested by diesel, 100% biodiesel (JB 100), blends of 80% diesel and 20% biodiesel (JB 20) and other blends like JB 40, JB 60 and JB 80. The engine characteristics with jatropha biodiesel were compared against those obtained using diesel fuel. From results it is observed that nitrogen oxide emissions of JBD are more than that diesel fuel. These high NOX emissions are due to the presence of unsaturated fatty acids and the advanced injection caused by the higher bulk modulus of JBD and their blends. A four stroke single cylinder water cooled IDI diesel engine was used for investigation. Nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and smoke were recorded and various engine performance parameters were also evaluated. The results and discussion based on the effect of emission controlling systems on engine performance and emission characteristics of JB 100, JB 80, JB 60, JB 40, JB 20 and diesel fuel without emission controlling systems. The performance parameters and nitrogen oxide emissions are measured and recorded for diesel fuel, JBD and their blends. The results showed that at 5% EGR + three way catalytic converter for JB 100, at 40% EGR + three way catalytic converter for JB 80, JB60 and JB 40. And at 35% EGR + three way catalytic converter for JB 20 and diesel fuels, the N0x emissions effectively reduced compared to without emission controlling devices.