RA Chandgude1, MV Taur1, Rachana Bhokare2 and MR Nandgaonkar2
1Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Pune, Maharashtra, India; ra.chandgude@vsisugar.org.in
2College of Engineering, Pune Technological University, Pune, Maharashtra, India
The Indian sugar industry has gradually transformed Indian economy from oil, gas, and fossil fuels to self-dependent bioenergy. By 2025, India plans to achieve a 20% ethanol blending in fuel to decrease vehicle pollution and lessen its reliance on fossil fuel imports. This shift will significantly help transition to net-zero carbon goals by 2070 and ensure sustainability. Most of the ethanol in India is produced from sugarcane juice, syrup, B heavy molasses, C molasses, and food grains, but current E20 ethanol blending is only applicable to petrol-based vehicles. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of using diesel-ethanol fuel on combustion, engine performance, and emissions in twin-cylinder, four-stroke common-rail direct-injection (CRDI) engines. The research was conducted at 2000 and 2400 rpm under different loads (10, 20, 30, and 40 Nm) and injection openings (0%, 20%, 40%, and 60%) to assess the impact of ethanol blending on diesel-engine performance and emissions. When diesel is mixed with up to 20% ethanol, the resulting blend produces a higher brake power. Increasing the ethanol content in the mix leads to lower emissions of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons. This could contribute to a low-carbon economy and improve sustainability of the sugarcane industry.