Performance Characteristics of a Diesel Engine Using Mahua Biodiesel as Alternate Fuel

The aim of this study is to assess the performance, emission and combustion characteristics of diesel engine using mahua methyl esters. In the present work, mahua methyl esters and its blends with diesel were used as fuel. Various proportions of mahua methyl ester fuel blends (25% and 50%) were used for conducting the performance tests at varying load conditions. Various parameters such as thermal efficiency, specific fuel consumption, emission of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen gases in exhaust were recorded. The important properties of mahua methyl esters are compared with diesel standards. The test results indicate that the fuel of B25 can be used in diesel engines without any engine modifications.