Performance of a Diesel Engine Using Jatropha Oil Blends and Phorbol Esters in Exhaust Particulate

Abstract

Crude oil derived from Jatropha is a promising alternative to fossil fuels in Mozambique. To investigate the feasibility of direct use of crude oil for diesel engines, engine tests as well as measurements of un-vaporized fuel sprays and ignition characteristics were performed by use of Jatropha oil blended diesel fuel. The results demonstrated that a single cylinder engine is successfully operated with Jatropha oil blended diesel fuel even if the volume fraction of Jatropha oil is increased up to 80%. The thermal efficiency was decreased and the PM emission was increased, though. It was also confirmed that no phorbol esters were detected in the exhaust particulates.