Contents:

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Description of jatropha
• Comparison of properties of jatropha with
diesel
• Performance and emission observations
• Results and discussions
• Conclusion
• References
 ABSTRACT
Diesel engine is a popular prime mover for surface transportation,
agricultural machinery and Industries. More than 6.5 million diesel engines
being used in the Indian agricultural sectors for various activities. Import of
petroleum products is a major drain on our foreign exchange sources and
with growing demand in future years the situation is likely become even
worse. Hence it has become imperative to find suitable fuels,which can be
produced in our country.Non-edible vegetable oils such as
Jatropha,Pongamia,Mahua,etc can either be fully or partially substitute for
diesel oil.
In this work, Jatropha oil, a non-edible type is used in this investigation
for studying its suitability for use in diesel engine.This work deals with the
results of investigations carried out in studying the fuel properties of
Jatropha oil and its blends with diesel fuel from 10 to 50% by volume and
running in a single cylinder four-stroke diesel engine with these fuels. Engine
tests have been carried out with the aim of obtaining comparative measures
of Brake power, specific fuel consumption, brake thermal efficiency, and
evaluate the behavior of the diesel engine running on above mentioned
fuels. From the result of these investigation shows that appropriate mixture
of Jatropha oil with diesel fuel has shown better performance with reduced
emissions. The 10% to 40% Jatropha oil diesel fuel gives better
performance and produce fewer emissions from the engine. The 20%
Jotropha oil with diesel fuel gives better performance and produce fewer
emissions from the engine.
 • INTRODUCTION
India has imported about 74 million tones of crude oil (70% of its
requirement) and petroleum products during the year 2001-2002 causing
heavy burden on foreign exchange out go. The demand of high-speed diesel
has been estimated to be 52.3 million tones for the year 2006-07 which
would be higher (24%) than that of current demand. The availability of
petroleum is also uncertain in future. Fast depletion of fossil fuels is
demanding an urgent to carry out research work to find viable alternative
fuels. Thermodynamic tests based on engine performance evaluations have
established the feasibility of using a variety of alternative fuels such as CNG,
Biogas, Alcohols, and Vegetable oils etc.To cut foreign exchequer and
contribute towards protection of earth from the threat of environmental
degradation, biofuels can be a good alternative for diesel for most of the
developing countries. Vegetable oils have considerable potential to be
considered as appropriate alternative as they possesses fuel properties
similar to that of diesel.Moreover,review of the literature revealed that with
the use of vegetable oils as fuels in diesel engines, harmful exhaust
emissions,particularly HC, smoke and CO are considerably reduced as
compared to diesel.
When Rudolf first enunciated the concept of diesel engine, the
experimental was demonstrated on groundnut oil indicating prospective
fuels of diesel engines would be vegetable oils. He confidently predicted that
one day his engine would be fuelled by vegetable oils with their great
advantage of being renewable.
Research on vegetable oils as diesel was conducted at least 60 years
ago, but interest lagged because of cheap and plentiful supplies of
petroleum fuel. More recently rapid escalation of petroleum prices, feared
shortages of petroleum, foreseeable end of worldwide petroleum reserves
and net addition of CO2 to the atmosphere from combustion sources have
rekindled interest in renewable vegetable oil fuels.
 • JATROPHA AS ALTERNATIVE FUEL
The world’s rapidly dwindling petroleum supplies, their raising cost the
growing danger of environmental pollution from these fuels have lead to an
intensive search for an alternative fuels. The use of jatropha oil (jatropha
curcas) and as diesel substitute in compression ignition engine has now
assumed greater importance because their large population and phenomenal
growth rate.
Jatropha curcas, a member of the family euphorbiacae. It is a large
shrub with thick branch lets and numerous large leaves attaining a height of
3-4m in 3yrs. Its seeds resemble castor seed in shape, but are smaller and
brown. Locally known as ratanjot or kadaharallu or thurakathi, the plant is of
high commercial and medicinal value.
The jatropha shrub are the renewable source and it is readily
availability in India. Jatropha oils is considered as non-edible oils, jatropha
normally starts yielding in 3 years. The plant is valued for its fat rich oil,
known in the trade as curcas oil obtained from the seeds. The oil content has
been reported to a maximum of 60% of seed weight. It has a low viscosity as
a compared to castor oil.
The oil is semi dried which can be put to a variety of commercial uses.
It may be employed in the preparation of non or semi drying alkyds. It can be
used as a lubricant and for making soaps and candles.
The best time for planting, branch cutting is July and august. Shorter
cuttings 10-20cm long cause poor sprouting where as 60cm long cuttings
produce good sprouting.
Cuttings planted in July-August under a moderate temperature (25-
300c) and relative humidity (60-80%) grow to height of up to 1.8m and
exhibit multiple branches and branch lets densely covered with broad leaves.
In these plants flowering and fruiting takes place in winter. Plants grown in
summer (May-June) have poor growth (1.5m) and fewer branching set
flowers and fruits by winter.
 The common mature consists of 12000kg of fruits on 6th yr onwards
under irrigated conditions and 4000kg from 6th onwards under rain fed
conditions. This seed contains up to 60% oil and 20% protein and amino acid
profile shows high levels. The physical and chemical properties of curcas oil
methyl ester are comparable to that of diesel.
Using these vegetable oils as an alternative to diesel is beneficial to
farmers as well since they can save on diesel and fertilizers cost.
It is therefore necessary to develop some means for improving the fuel
economy of CI engines and also to investigate the suitability of jatropha oil
for diesel engine operations. If the diesel engine could be fuelled on a
cleaner fuel such as jatropha oil, it may well be the most desirable engine of
the future.

• DESCRIPTION OF THE JATROPHA

• BOTANY OF THE JATROPHA
General: Common name of the oil – Jatropha oil
Botanical name – jatropha curcas.
Family-euphorbiacae.

• AGRICULTURAL ASPECTS
Harvesting period:
Flowering: APRIL-MAY
Fruiting: JULY-AUGUST depending on the location
TABLE 1: COMPARISON OF PROPERITES OF JATROPHA OIL WITH
CONVENTIONAL DIESEL FUEL.
Properties Diesel Jatropha
oil
Density (kg/m3)at 20°C 850 920
Specific gravity at 20°C 0.850 0.920
K.V. (cst) at 20°C 2.5 53.75
Calorific value (kj/kg) 42000 36000
Flash Point (°C) 58 240
Fire Point (°C) 64` 244
Cetane number 47.5 52
Acid Value (mg of KOH/g) 0.062 16.00
Carbon residue(%) <0.35 <0.024
Moisture Content & volatile Matter(%) 24.66 0.25
TABLE 2: PROPERTIES OF JATROPHA OIL AND ITS BLENDS WITH
DIESEL

Properties J10 J20 J30 J40 J50 J100 Diese

l

Density(Kg/m3)at 857 864 871 878 885 920 850

37°C

Specific gravity at 0.857 0.864 0.871 0.878 0.885 0.920 0.850

37°C

K.V (cst) at 37°C 7.62 12.75 17.87 23.00 28.12 53.75 2.50

Calorific value 41400 4080 4020 3960 3900 3600 42000

(kj/kg) 0 0 0 0 0

Flash Point (°C 76.2 94.4 112.6 130.8 149 240 58

Fire Point (°C) 82 100 118 136 154 244 64

OBSERVATIONS: Performance and Emission observations are
tabulated in table 3to table 9 Jatropha oil blended fuels with
diesel.

Table –3: Performance and emission characteristics for Diesel fuel

Atm Condition: Atm. Temperature: 32°C Engine Conditions:
Injection Timing: 27° BTDCType of Fuel used: Diesel
Rated Engine Speed: 1500 rpm

Table –4: Performance and Emission Characteristics for 20%

Jatropha oil
Sl.no LOAD Spring Speed Time BP in FC in SFC in BSFC in Heat BTE
in Kg balance in taken KW Kg/hr Kg/KWhr Kg/KWhr in in %
reading rpm for put
in gms 10cc in
of oil KW
1 2 0 772 60 0.374 0.502 1.342 3.558 5.268 7.099
2 3 100 762 59 0.480 0.510 1.062 2.213 5.357 8.96
3 4 300 740 57 0.562 0.528 0.939 1.670 5.545 10.13
4 5 450 735 53 0.660 0.568 0.860 1.303 5.964 11.06
5 6 550 718 51 0.749 0.590 0.787 1.050 6.198 12.08
6 7 600 690 48 0.826 0.627 0.759 0.918 6.585 12.54
7 8 700 552 44 0.920 0.684 0.743 0.807 7.184 12.80
8 9 900 528 42 1.150 0.717 0.623 0.541 7.526 15.28
9 10 950 498 41 1.21 0.734 0.606 0.500 7.709 15.69

Table –5: Performance and Emission Characteristics for 30%

Jatropha oil

Atm Condition: Atm temperature: 32°C Engine Conditions:

Injection Timing: 27° BTDC

Type of Fuel used: 30% jatropha oil (j30) Rated Engine Speed:
1500 rpm

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS EMISSION

Sl.no LOAD Spring Speed Time BP FC in SFC in BSFC in Heat BTE CO Unburnt
% HC
in balance in taken in Kg/h Kg/KWhr Kg/KWhr in in %
PPM
kg reading rpm for KW r put
in gms 10cc in
of oil KW
in
sec
1 2 0 748 70 0.36 0.439 1.209 3.330 4.89 7.41 0.2 63
3
3 4
2 3 100 746 64 0.47 0.481 1.023 2.176 5.35 8.78
0 3
3 4 150 744 59 0.58 0.521 0.893 1.531 5.80 10.0
3 7
4 5 200 743 55 0.69 0.559 0.802 1.150 6.22 11.1
7 9
5 6 300 740 50 0.80 0.615 0.766 0.955 6.85 11.7
2 2
6 7 400 735 46 0.90 0.669 0.740 0.819 7.44 12.1
3 8
7 8 600 730 45 0.99 0.684 0.689 0.694 7.61 13.0
2 4
8 9 700 728 44 1.09 0.699 0.638 0.582 7.78 14.0
5 7
9 10 800 727 42 1.19 0.733 0.611 0.509 8.15 14.6
9 8

Table –6: Performance and Emission Characteristics for 40%

Jatropha oil

Atm Condition: Atm temperature: 32°C Engine Conditions:

Injection Timing: 27° BTDC
Type of Fuel used: 40% jatropha oil (j40) Rated Engine
Speed: 1500 rpm
 PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS EMISSION
Sl.no LOAD Spring Speed Time BP FC in SFC in BSFC in Heat BTE CO Unburn
(%) t HC
in Kg balance in taken in Kg/h Kg/KWhr Kg/KWhr in in %
ppm
reading rpm for KW r put
in gms 10cc in
of oil KW
in
sec
1 2 0 750 63 0.36 0.494 1.357 3.728 5.41 6.72 0.2 63
2
4 2
2 3 0 744 59 0.48 0.527 1.095 2.276 5.77 8.33
1
3 4 150 741 56 0.58 0.555 0.955 1.643 6.08 9.54
1 9
4 5 300 739 55 0.68 0.565 0.829 1.217 6.20 10.9
1 0 8
5 6 450 735 49 0.77 0.635 0.816 1.048 6.95 11.1
8 9 7
6 7 600 731 48 0.87 0.648 0.740 0.845 7.10 12.3
5 4 1
7 8 750 728 46 0.97 0.676 0.696 0.716 7.41 13.0
1 3 9
8 9 800 724 44 1.07 0.707 0.656 0.609 7.75 13.8
7 0 9
9 10 1000 722 43 1.16 0.723 0.619 0.529 7.93 14.7
8 0 2
Table –7: Performance and Emission Characteristics for 50%
Jatropha oil

Atm Condition: Atm temperature: 32°C Engine Conditions:

Injection Timing: 27° BTDC

Type of Fuel used: 50% jatropha oil (j50) Rated Engine

Speed: 1500 rpm
 PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS EMISSION
Sl.no LOAD Spring Speed Time BP FC in SFC in BSFC in Heat BTE CO Unburn
(%) t HC
in Kg balance in taken in Kg/h Kg/KWhr Kg/KWhr in in %
ppm
reading rpm for KW r put
in gms 10cc in
of oil KW
in
sec
1 2 0 745 70 0.36 0.449 1.243 3.443 4.84 7.44 0.2 67
6
1 8
2 3 50 740 69 0.47 0.455 0.963 2.040 4.91 9.59
2 8
3 4 200 738 63 0.57 0.499 0.870 1.518 5.38 10.6
3 6 3
4 5 350 734 58 0.67 0.542 0.807 1.202 5.85 11.4
1 1 6
5 6 500 729 50 0.76 0.629 0.821 1.071 6.78 11.2
6 5 8
6 7 600 721 49 0.86 0.641 0.742 0.859 6.92 12.4
3 6 6
7 8 700 717 47 0.96 0.669 0.695 0.722 7.22 13.3
2 0 2
8 9 800 713 44 1.06 0.714 0.672 0.633 7.71 13.7
1 3 5
9 10 1000 711 43 1.15 0.731 0.635 0.452 7.89 14.5
0 2 7
Table –8: Performance and Emission Characteristics for 100%
Jatropha oil

Atm Condition: Atm temperature: 32°C Engine Conditions:

Injection Timing: 27° BTDC

Type of Fuel used: 100% jatropha oil (j100) Rated Engine

Speed: 1500 rpm
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The engine tests were conducted with jatropha oil and its blends from
two to maximum load condition.
From the results of these tests it is observed that the 20% jatropha and
80% diesel gives maximum efficiency.

• Performance of the engine with jatropha oil and its blends at

20% jatropha oil and 80% diesel

BP v/s FUEL COSUMPTION (FC)

Variation of BP v/s FC for Jatropha oil and its blends

1
0.9
0.8 10%J
FC in Kg/hr

0.7 20%J
0.6 30%J
0.5 40%J
0.4 50%J
0.3 100%J
0.2 100%D
0.1
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1.1 1.2 1.3
BP in kw

Figure 4: Variation of BP vs. FC for Jatropha oil and its blends

BP v/s SPECIFIC FUEL CONSUMPTION (SFC)

 Variation of BP v/s SFC for Jatropha oil and its blends

1.6
1.5
1.4
1.3
SFC in kg/kw.hr

1.2 10%J
1.1
20%J
1
0.9 30%J
0.8 40%J
0.7 50%J
0.6
0.5 100%J
0.4 100%D
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1.1 1.2 1.3
BP in kw

Figure 5: Variation of BP vs. SFC for Jatropha oil and its blends

BP v/s BRAKE SPECIFIC FUEL CONSUMPTION (BSFC)

Variation of BP v/s BSFC for Jatropha oil and its blends

3.5
BSFC in Kg/Kw.hr

3
10%J
2.5 20%J
30%J
2 40%J
50%J
1.5
100%J
100%Diesel
1

0.5

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1.1 1.2 1.3
BP in Kw

Figure 6: Variation of BP vs. BSFC for Jatropha oil and its blends

BP v/s BRAKE THERMAL EFFICIENCY (BTE)

 Variation of BP v/s BTE for Jatropha oil and its blends

18
17
16
15
14
13 10%J
12 20%J
11
BTE in %

10 30%J
9 40%J
8 50%J
7
6 100%J OIL
5 100%DIESEL
4
3
2
1
0
0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1.1 1.2 1.3
BP in kw

Figure 7: Variation of BP vs. BTE for Jatropha oil and its blends

• CONCLUSIONS
1. Jatropha oil and its blends can be used directly in diesel engines.
Jatropha oil and its blends can be used as an alternative fuel in
existing diesel engine without any modification.
2. For J10, J20, J30 and J40 fuels the BTE is improved compared to diesel
fuel.
3. The emissions such as CO & HC were lower for J10, J20, J30, and J40 fuels.
4. The BTE of the engine with J100 and J50 does not differ greatly from that
of diesel fuel.
5. The BSFC for J10, J20, J30 and J40 fuels is lower than the diesel fuel.
6. The 20% blend of Jotropha oil with diesel fuel was found to be the
best blend. In regard to performance and emission characteristics
compared to other blends.
7. The 20% blend of Jatropha oil with diesel fuel is found to be the
optimum blend, which improves the BTE of the engine and reduces
the BSFC compared to diesel and all other blends.
Based on the exhaustive engine tests, it could be conclude that the
blends of Jatropha oil with diesel fuel up to 40% by volume could
replace the diesel for running the existing diesel engine without any
modifications. Also it could be conclude. That the vegetable oil
reduces the dependence on crude oil imports and offers business
possibilities to agricultural enterprises for periods of excess
agricultural production.

REFERENCES
1. Bhonadaya. G. Reedy, Redy. K.V. and Ganeshan. V “Utilization of
non-edible vegetable oil in diesel engine” pp 211-214, XVII NICES<
2001.

2. Senthil Kumar, Ramesh. A & Nagalingama. B “Experimental

investigation an a Jatropha oil-Methanol dual fuel engine” pp.1-7,
SAE 2001-01-0153., 2001

3. Srinivasa Rao. P and Gopalakrishnan K.V. “Use of non-edible

Vegetable oils as alternative fuels in Diesel Engines”, DNES project
report no. 7/2/83, pp 292-297, Indian Institute of Technology,
Chennai, 1992.

4. Suryawanshi.J.G. & Bhoyar, A.B.”Experimental investigation on IC

engine using biodiesel” pp. 189-196, XVII NCICES< 2003.;s