Performance And Emission Characteristics of A Single Cylinder Direct Injection Four Stroke Diesel Engine With Mickey Piston

Abstract

This study examines the performance and emission characteristics of a single-cylinder, direct injection (DI), four-stroke diesel engine equipped with a Mickey piston, using ethanol and n-butanol as alternative fuels. The Mickey piston design enhances in-cylinder air-fuel mixing by introducing grooves on the piston crown, which improve swirl and turbulence. Experimental analysis was conducted to evaluate brake thermal efficiency (BTE), brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC), and emissions, including carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbons (HC), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and opacity. Results showed that ethanol and n-butanol blends with diesel improved BTE and reduced BSFC compared to conventional diesel. Emissions analysis indicated reduced CO and HC levels but increased NOx emissions with higher ethanol and n-butanol blends. These findings demonstrate the potential of modified piston geometries and alternative fuels to improve diesel engine performance and reduce emissions.
Ethanol and n-butanol, known for their cleaner combustion properties, were used as blends with conventional diesel to assess their impact on engine performance.