Effect of injection pressure on the performance and emission characteristics of the CI engine using Vateria indica biodiesel

Vateria indica Linn seeds were found to contain nearly 19% of oil/fat content. This fat is converted into biodiesel by a novel method by the authors at the biodiesel preparation facility at NITK, Surathkal, India. As biodiesel is a promising alternative fuel for petro diesel in compression ignition (CI) engines, this biofuel is tested in a single-cylinder diesel engine. The objective of this work is to find combustion, performance and emission characteristics of a CI engine with diesel and blends of V. indica biodiesel at 180, 200 and 220?bar injection pressures. Blending is done in volumetric ratios of 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% of biodiesel with diesel which are called as B10, B15, B20 and B25. The idea of increasing fuel injection pressure is to promote atomisation and full penetration into the combustion chamber leading to better combustion. Blend B25 showed best thermal efficiency of the order of 33.03% and the least NO_X emission of 1047?ppm at 220?bar injection pressure at 75% load.