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Assessment of pyrolysis waste engine oil as an alternative fuel source for diesel engine

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Abstract

Disposal of hazardous waste engine oil (WEO) has become the forefront of climate change. Hence, the potential conversion of WEO is essential and also recycled through different pyrolysis techniques for better assessment. In this work, diesel-like fuel extracted from electrical pyrolysis and microwave pyrolysis was used as an alternative fuel for the CI engine. The pyrolysis oil generated by both pyrolysis processes was found to be reliable. Nevertheless, the physicochemical characteristics of both pyrolysis oil deviated from each other. The performance, combustion and emission characteristics of different pyrolysis fuel have been investigated to identify the suitable alternative fuel for CI engine. The performance characteristics at rated load revealed that the brake thermal efficiency of electrical pyrolysis oil (EPO) and microwave pyrolysis oil (MPO) was 26% and 25%, respectively, which was 0.8% and 1.5% lower than diesel due to its higher viscosity. Emission characteristic shows that unburnt hydrocarbon emission of EPO and MPO was higher than diesel by 7% and 15%, respectively. Similarly, the filter smoke number was 3% and 10% higher than diesel. NO emission of EPO and MPO was lower than diesel by 27% and 13%, respectively. Also, exergy analysis represents MPO has higher potential when compared to EPO due to higher exergy efficiency.

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Abbreviations

AC:

Activated carbon

ASTM:

American Society for Testing and Materials

BTE:

Brake thermal efficiency/%

BMEP:

Brake mean effective pressure/bar

BSEC:

Brake specific energy consumption/MJ kWh−1

CA:

Crank angle/degree

CI:

Compression ignition

CO:

Carbon monoxide/vol%

CO2 :

Carbon dioxide/vol%

DI:

Direct injection

EPO:

Electrical pyrolysis oil

FEO:

Fresh engine oil

FSN:

Filter smoke number

GC–MS:

Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry

HRR:

Heat release rate/J deg−1 CA−1

MAP:

Microwave-assisted pyrolysis

MPO:

Microwave pyrolysis oil

NCG:

Non-condensable gases

NO:

Nitric oxide/ppm

NOx :

Oxides of nitrogen/ppm

PAHs:

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

ppm:

Parts per million

PO:

Pyrolysis oil

UBHC:

Unburnt hydrocarbon/ppm

WEO:

Waste engine oil

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the Department of science and technology—Science and Engineering Research Board (DST-SERB) for providing funding to carry out the research project (Project No. DST/SB/EMEQ-251). Also, the authors acknowledge the Director, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India, for supporting and extending the facility to the successful completion of this research work.

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  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, TamilNadu, 620 015, India

    A. Zahir Hussain, A. Santhoshkumar & Anand Ramanathan

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  1. A. Zahir Hussain
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  3. Anand Ramanathan
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Correspondence to Anand Ramanathan.

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Zahir Hussain, A., Santhoshkumar, A. & Ramanathan, A. Assessment of pyrolysis waste engine oil as an alternative fuel source for diesel engine. J Therm Anal Calorim 141, 2277–2293 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-020-09516-y

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