Investigations of performance and emission characteristics in diesel engine fueled with Hemp oil methyl ester

Abstract The depleting reserves of petrol and diesel fuels has caused the international organizations and bodies to remind the need for alternate fuel substitute on automobile manufactures which made them to relay upon biodiesel as the best possible source. The current research intended to investigate the characteristics of Hemp oilmethyl ester and compared with standard diesel. Non-edible nature of the Hemp oil favored to choose as feed stock. The Acid-catalyzed transesterification process was conducted for converting Hemp oilinto methyl ester. Experimental analysis was conducted using blends such as HOME25, HOME50, HOME75, HOME100 and standard diesel under naturally aspirated load conditions. The observations concluded that Smoke opacity, HC and CO emissions recorded significant reduction by increasing the percentage contribution of HOME in the tested fuels. The BTE has registered a slight reduction by adding HOME in standard diesel with increase in consumption of fuel. N0x and CO2 emissions registered higher values relative to standard diesel owing to higher O2 concentration in the methyl ester.