Impact of Indian Geranium Grass Biodiesel Blends on Performance, Combustion and Emission Characteristics

Indian Geranium Grass popularly known as palmarosa is widely grown in many parts of Indian Sub-continent and used for its aromatic flavor in South American and Middle East countries. In this current study, Indian Geranium Grass oil is blended with diesel in different proportions from 0 % to 100 % by volume and its impact on performance, combustion and emission characteristics is investigated in a single-cylinder diesel engine without any modification. The experimental results projected that the performance characteristics of Biodiesel blend IGG20 were better as it consumes 12 % lesser fuel of 0.39 kg·kWh −1 and 5 % higher brake thermal efficiency compared to other blends and also exhibited peak cylinder pressure of 75.31 bar and shorter ignition delay of 17.08-degree crank angle compared to diesel. Biodiesel blend IGG20 has a significant reduction in carbon monoxide of 23 %, smoke emission of 17.2 % emission. However, there is a slight increase in total hydrocarbon, oxides of nitrogen and carbon dioxide emissions of 2 %, 15.67 % and 14 % respectively compared to diesel which may be due to poor vaporization, incomplete combustion and reduced in-cylinder temperature.