Engine performance and emissions of fuel produced from palm kernel oil

In this research work, the experimental investigation on effect of preheating on the performance and emissions of a direct injection diesel engine has been reported. Four different fuels were tested using the same diesel engine: crude palm kernel oil (CPKO), preheated crude palm kernel oil (PCPKO), palm kernel oil methyl ester (PKOME) and petroleum diesel (petrodiesel) as reference fuel. A novel technique of using engine coolant to preheat the CPKO to PCPKO was employed. A bypass was created from the engine for the coolant to pass through and heat a series of coiled copper tubes inside the fuel tank and on which was the PCPKO. Preheating CPKO to obtain PCPKO reduced the viscosity by 59% and improved brake torque and brake power by 14%. BTE and BSFC of PCPKO was better than CPKO by 16% and 36%, respectively because the lowered viscosity of PCPKO facilitated a better atomization during combustion. While PKOME, biodiesel, recorded 21% less carbon monoxide and 71% less THC emissions than CPKO.