COMPARISON OF EMISSIONS AND ENGINE PERFORMANCE OF CRAMBE BIODIESEL AND BIOGAS

ABSTRACT The combination of crambe (Crambe abyssinica L.) biodiesel and biogas could be a renewable energy alternative for internal combustion engines. Therefore, the emissions and engine performance of crambe biodiesel blends (B0, B10, B30, B50, B75, and B100) were evaluated in both the dual mode (biogas) and normal mode (biodiesel). The tests were performed on a 5-kVA generator engine at loads ranging from 1 to 4 kW. The power generated in the normal mode was 17% lower than that generated in the dual mode. The dual mode showed a lower specific fuel consumption than the normal mode. In the normal mode, loss of power occurred as the proportion of biodiesel increased. Furthermore, nitrogen oxide emissions decreased with the addition of biogas. In the dual mode, the emissions increased as the biodiesel content increased. Carbon monoxide emissions decreased in both the normal and dual modes with an increase in biodiesel. The addition of biogas in the dual fuel mode with crambe biodiesel is an efficient alternative for partial substitution of diesel.