Executive Summary : | The Union Cabinet has approved the National Policy on Biofuels 2018, which explores the use of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation raw materials for biofuel production. The policy focuses on advanced biofuels like dimethyl ether and 2nd generation ethanol. Ethanol is gaining popularity in India as a substitute fuel for gasoline, with a target of 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2025. Blending ethanol in diesel engines can help reduce particulate and NOx emissions and achieve partial fuel independence. However, challenges include higher autoignition temperature, lower calorific value, extended ignition delay, and low miscibility in diesel. The current scope of work focuses on characterizing and evaluating ethanol utilization in diesel engines as a potential alternative fuel option. The first step involves investigating the mechanism of flash boiling atomization of diesel-ethanol blends by adjusting fuel and air temperatures and pressures. A dedicated fuel injection system and a Constant Volume spray Chamber (CVsC) will be designed and fabricated to analyze micro or macroscopic spray parameters for varying fuel injection pressure, temperature, and blending ratios. |
Co-PI: | Dr. Gajendra singh, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, Dr. Balkrishna Mehta, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, Dr. Pravesh Chandra shukla, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhilai, Chhattisgarh |