Performance Characteristic of a CI Engine using Esterified Transformer Oil

Author(s): D.B. Sivakumar, T. Senthilkumar, S. Milkin Sudharson

Abstract: Increase in energy demand, stringent emission norms and depletion of oil resources have led the Researchers to find alternative fuels for internal combustion engines. Reuse and recycling are better option to derive energy or value added products from waste substances and to minimize the disposal problems. Transformer oil is generally used as a coolant in welding transformers, power transformers and electromotive units. However, the transformer oil has properties that are similar to diesel fuel with marginally higher viscosity and lower calorific value. The present investigation is aimed to use the transformer oil as a possible source of energy to run a small powered, single cylinder water-cooled diesel engine. In the present work, two different blends of transformer oil in varying proportions of 7%, 14% with diesel are used. The performance parameters such as a brake power, specific fuel consumption, and thermal efficiency are calculated on experimental analysis of engine. The results are analyzed and compared with diesel operation of the same engine. The current study investigates the suitability for using transformer oil as an alternative fuel for compression ignition (CI) Engine. In the first Part of the investigation, engine performance was conducted. In the latter part of the investigation transformer oil was converted by well know transesterification process and again different fuel properties and engine performance were conducted. Properties of normal transformer oil and blended transformer oil were compared with those of Conventional diesel fuel (DF). All properties were close to those of diesel fuel. The engine performance with transformer oil was much better than that of diesel fuel. Based on the findings, transformer oil was suggested to be alternative fuels for CI engine.