Abstracts

The gradual depletion of fossil fuel reserves, combined with increasing economic constraints and growing environmental concerns, has substantially intensified the demand for alternative energy sources. Biodiesel produced from vegetable oils has emerged as a prominent renewable fuel due to its sustainable nature, low environmental impact, and high compatibility with conventional compression ignition engines. In this context, safflower oil provides significant techno- economic advantages owing to its high unsaturated fatty acid content, low viscosity, and broad agronomic adaptability. This study experimentally investigates the effects of blending safflower seed oil with conventional diesel fuel at volumetric ratios of 5 and 15% on the performance and exhaust emission characteristics of a single-cylinder diesel engine. The results indicate that the 5% safflower diesel blend maintains engine power output comparable to that of pure diesel across all load conditions, whereas the 15% blend leads to a slight reduction in brake power. Emission measurements reveal a minor decrease in carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations for both blend ratios, while nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions increase due to altered combustion behavior and elevated in-cylinder temperatures. Load-dependent performance analysis shows that the brake- specific fuel consumption remains nearly unchanged for the 5% blend, whereas the 15% blend results in a moderate increase. Overall, the findings suggest that blending 5% safflower seed oil with conventional diesel achieves an optimal balance between engine performance and emission characteristics, representing a technically advantageous option for diesel engine operation.

Keywords

Energy, Diesel engine, Safflower oil biodiesel, Exhaust emissions

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to acknowledge the Erin Motor R&D Center team for their continued support and constructive contributions during the course of the experimental work.

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