PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A CONVENTIONAL DIESEL ENGINE RUNNING IN DUAL FUEL MODE WITH DIESEL & LPG

Present study evaluates the performance of a compression ignition engine running in dual fuel mode with Liquefied Petroleum Gas and Petroleum Diesel. The LPG was inducted in the engine by Fumigation method at the rate of 0.094, 0.189 & 0.283 Kg/hr. Major performance parameters such as Brake power, Brake thermal efficiency, Brake specific fuel consumption etc. were evaluated at different load & different fuel combinations. A reduction of up to 11% in diesel consumption and up to 32% improvement in Brake specific fuel consumption was observed in dual fuel mode. Whereas, brake thermal efficiency didn’t improved due to poor utilization of high energy content of LPG. Although the diesel fuel was saved but that came on sacrificing LPG which cost more than saved diesel. It’s a loss in terms of cost and performance to use LPG in conventional Diesel engine by fumigation method used in this experiment but the concept of experiment can be advanced to make more subtle dual fuel diesel engine with advance techniques and improved cylinder designs.