LAUSR

Abstract The increasing transportation needs, demand for petroleum-based diesel and harmful vehicular emissions take us to look for safer and economically feasible alternative fuels. Biodiesel produced from Chlorella variabilis MK039712.1 and waste cooking oil was tested and compared with petroleum-based diesel for their performance and emission characteristics using IC Engine set up, tested under Kirloskar TV1 having power 5.20 kW @ 1500 rpm. The effect of algal oil biodiesel (AOBD) on Waste cooking oil biodiesel (WCOBD) as blends (0–100%) on Brake thermal efficiency (%) (BTE), Brake power (KW) (BP), Brake specific fuel consumption (kg/kWh) (BSFC), Smoke opacity (%) (SO), CO, CO2, NOx and HC emissions have been investigated. WCOBD has better engine performance than AOBD which is evident from its lower BSFC, higher BTE and BP than AOBD. However, AOBD proves better from an emissions point of view as emission reports show lesser CO% and higher CO2% than WCOBD and CD. NOx emissions for both the fuels were higher compared to Conventional diesel (CD). The properties and performance characteristics of the test blends are found to be comparable with ASTM Standards which is a favourable fuel requirement. Reduction in Smoke opacity (SO) of WCOBD in comparison with CD shows the clean-burning tendency. Overall, the pure and blend of AOBD with WCOBD has improved engine performance and emission characteristics, which is substantiated by the analysis of properties, performance and emission data by absolute percentage deviation (APD) a statistical method of analysis.