Experimental study on combustion and performance characteristics in a DI CI engine fuelled with blends of waste plastic oil

Recycling of waste plastic had gained greater importance in today’s world. The present experimental investigation deals with the transformation of waste plastics from civic landfills to oil in a pyrolysis reactor. A single feed at rate of 8 kg yielded 675 ml of pyrolytic oil. The physio-chemical properties of plastic oil was found to be within ASTM standards with higher kinematic viscosity and carbon residue. Straight diesel-Plastic Oil (PO) blending was carried out at 15% (diesel 85% and plastic oil 15%) and 30% (diesel 70% and plastic oil 30%) in volume ratio. Combustion analysis and performance studies was carried out at no load and full load condition in single cylinder direct injection compression ignition engine to understand the feasibility of utilizing plastic oil as substitute fuel to commercial diesel. At full load condition, in-cylinder pressure, rate of pressure rise, rate of heat release and peak pressure were higher for PO30% than straight diesel. The brake thermal efficiency for PO blends was found to be slightly higher than straight diesel with significant increase in brake specific fuel consumption. The combustion and performance characteristics of the engine was affected significantly by the physio-chemical properties of PO. Keywords: Pyrolysis, Combustion, Performance, Brake thermal efficiency, Peak pressur