Performance Evaluation of Unmodified 3.74 Kw Diesel Engine Using Pongamia Biodiesel (pongamia Pinnatal.) and its Blends with Petro Diesel

Import of petroleum products constitutes a major drain on our foreign exchange reserves (Rs.90,000 crores / annum). The acid rain, global warming and health hazards are ill effects of increased polluted gases like SOx, CO and particulate matter in the atmosphere due to use of fossil fuels. Among the various alternative sources to petroleum products, oil from tree seed/crops has a potential for meeting the increasing requirements of diesel. The study indicated that use of biodiesel blends will not effect the performance of the engine. It can be recommended that addition of 20 to 40 per cent biodiesel to the petro diesel (B20 and B40) can conveniently used for the engine which in turn increases the brake power of the engine and increases the efficiency of the engine.