Novel Petit grain bitter orange waste peel oil biofuel investigation in diesel engine with modified fuel injection pressure and bowl geometry

The novelty of the present work deals with the experimental investigation of a novel biofuel feedstock as an alternative energy source that has not acquired much consideration among the researchers. The study for a novel biofuel feedstock resulted in Petit grain bitter orange oil as a prime source for biofuel production through steam distillation. The fuel properties of Petit grain bitter orange oil biofuel (PF) were determined by standard testing procedures. Further, FTIR, GC–MS, and TG/DTG analyses were performed to explore the functional groups, chemical composition, and thermal analysis, respectively. PF was experimentally examined in a single cylinder diesel engine at 1500 rpm for its performance, emission, and combustion characteristics. PF showed minimum emission, but performance and combustion characteristics were found higher with diesel. Therefore, the engine operating conditions were modified: bowl geometry profile (hemispherical and toroidal combustion chamber) and fuel injection pressure (190, 210, 230, and 250 bar). Improved engine characteristics were observed with PF in the toroidal combustion chamber at advanced IP (250 bar). Further, Diesel-RK-a specialized simulation software was employed to analyze flow with engine characteristics of both fuels considered. From the investigation, PF may be viewed as a choice of low viscous renewable fuel to produce power in engines with low emissions to create a more sustainable and cleaner environment.