Experimental assessment of diverse diesel engine characteristics fueled with an oxygenated fuel added lemon peel biodiesel blends

[Display omitted] •Lemon peel oil was observed as a renewable and eco-friendly biodiesel feedstock.•10% DEE addition to the LPO20 showed a higher BTE of 3.7% than LPO20 at full load.•HC, CO, NOX and smoke are reduced significantly by 24.4%, 16.9%, 11.8% and 12.5% for the LPO20 DEE10 fuel blend than LPO20.•Combustion characteristics such as HRR and CP enhanced with the addition of DEE to LPO 20.•DIESEL-RK enhanced BTE, CP and NOx by 2.51%, 1.2% and 2.24% compared to LPO20DEE10. Diesel engines are predominantly used in agriculture, transportation, and industries. Since diesel is non-renewable, more cost and environmental issues led the researchers to explore whether biodiesels are viable options for future diesel engine applications. The current research work analyzes lemon peel oil as a sustainable source for biodiesel production.Steam distillation method is used for extraction of lemon peel oil and the various physicochemical properties lemon peel oil were evaluated as per the ASTM norms. Different fuel blends such as 10%, 20% and 30% were prepared using lemon peel oil with diesel fuel on volume basis and all these blends were tested at standard conditions of diesel engine. Test results inferred the 20% lemon peel oil blend exposed better performance and reduced emissions. Further, the oxygenated fuel additive diethyl ether was mixed with 20% lemon peel oil blend with two proportions like 5% and 10% on a volume basis. Addition of 10% diethyl ether to the LPO20 was found to enhance brake thermal efficiency by 3.7% higher than the LPO20 at peak load. Similarly, the hazardous emissions like HC, CO, NOX, and smoke have condensed by 24.4%, 16.9%, 11.8% and 12.5%than LPO 20 at full load. Overall, LPO20 blend with 10% DEE has shown promising engine characteristics. Also, diesel engine tests were run at similar operating conditions for the diesel, LPO20 and LPO20 10% DEE using DIESEL-RK simulation software. Further, the experimental results were compared with the simulation results.Simulation and practical test results inferred 10% DEE addition to LPO 20 has shown improved engine performance and reduced engine emissions. DIESEL-RK simulation software is shown slight increment in BTE, CP and NOX by 2.51%, 1.2% and 2.24% at maximum load for the LPO 20 DEE 10 over the experimental test data.