Effects of Fuel Temperature on Biodiesel Spray Characteristics: An In-depth Study

Biodiesel is technically competitive with conventional petroleum-derived fuels and requires no changes in the fuel-distribution system. Moreover, there is an evidence that biodiesel-fuelled engine can have a strong impact on performance and pollutant emissions. Spray development plays a vital role in improving the combustion and emission characteristics of fuel because it directly affects the air–fuel mixture formation. Spray characteristics of fuel mainly depend on fuel-injection process, fuel density, viscosity, ambient pressure, and temperature. The purpose of this article is to reveal the effects of fuel temperature on the spray characteristics of Jatropha Oil Methyl Ester (JOME), Karanja Oil Methyl Ester (KOME), and Cotton Seed Oil Methyl Ester (COME) fuels in a spray chamber.The spray behaviour was analysed through spray characteristics such as spray cone angle and spray tip penetration using image-processing technique.The increase of fuel temperature from 40°C to 80°C caused a decrease in spray tip penetration and Sauter Mean Diameter (SMD) and an increase in spray cone angle. Experimental results show that the spray cone angle for JOME, KOME, and COME was increased, but spray tip penetration and SMD were decreased. This is due to the preheating of fuel which reduces density, viscosity, and surface tension of tested fuel.