Performance and Emission Characteristics of SI Engine with Standard and Modified Piston with Turmeric Leaf Oil as Biofuel

Turmeric leaves are waste products after removing turmeric rhizome. In the present work, the oil was extracted from the leaves of curcuma longa by hydro distillation method. The extracted oil was studied for preliminary physicochemical and phytochemical tests. The phytochemical evaluation of the turmeric leaf oil indicates the presence of terpenes which was used to run two stroke and four stroke engines. Engine emits less harmful product with turmeric oil as compared to petrol. Hence, it has been concluded that the turmeric leaf oil can be used as an alternative biofuel for petrol. Theoretically, turmeric leaf oil properties are similar to that of petrol. By performing practical experiments on this oil using different types of piston head shapes and varying parameters, we came to know that this will fulfil all capabilities as a biofuel in IC engines. In the second part, the characteristics fuel properties of turmeric leaf oil and their blends with petrol in the proportion of 40:60 (B40) have been studied. In the third part, engine tests have been conducted on turmeric leaf oil blends with petrol oil and brake thermal efficiency, engine gas temperature and air fuel ratio were evaluated. The next part consists of exhaust emission tests such as CO and HC emission measurement with a five gas analyser.