Investigation of the effects of butanol addition on safflower biodiesel usage as fuel in a generator diesel engine

•Biodiesel was obtained from safflower oil by transesterification.•Various ternary blends were prepared for the tests.•BTE values of ternary blends were the highest.•BSFC of ternary blends were recorded higher than ULSD.•Reductions on emissions were observed for ternary blends. As our world demands more and more energy and fossil fuel resources are running out, searches on finding alternative fuels in internal combustion engines are increasing. Alcohols and biofuels obtained from oils can be used as alternative diesel fuels. The present work investigated the effects of n-butanol addition to safflower biodiesel usage in a diesel engine used for driving an electrical power generator. Safflower biodiesel was obtained by using transesterification method. Binary blends of butanol-biodiesel and ternary blends of ultra-low sulfur diesel-biodiesel–butanol were contained 5%, 10%, and 20% butanol in volume basis. The tests were carried out on a four-cylinder, four-strokes, and direct-injection diesel engine at half load operation with stable engine speed of 1500 rpm. Experimental test results on combustion characteristics, emission and performance of the fuels were investigated. According to test results, formation of heat release rates and in-cylinder pressure curves were considerably similar and total heat transfer, average gas temperature and mass fraction burned were slightly changed. The ternary blends showed lower emission and increased brake thermal efficiency up to 1.5%. Besides, average mass fuel consumption was increased up to 5% and brake specific fuel consumption up to 6%. For the other fuels, emission and brake thermal efficiency were deteriorated.