Abstract:
The world is facing a two-fold energy crisis; depletion of non-renewable energy sources and pollutant
emissions from fossil fuel use. It is therefore necessary to come up with renewable energy resources in addition
to coming up with efficient methods of utilizing the available energy resources. To curb this, renewable energy
sources such as the use of Jatropha oil has been fronted to be used in internal and external combustion engines.
The objective of the study was to analyze the properties of jatropha oil. Combustion characteristics of the oil
under air/fuel and oxy/fuel environment was studied. Laboratory experiments as well as system modelling
was done. ANSY-Effluent simulation software was used. Literature has shown that Jatropha curcas oil has
comparable physiochemical properties as those of diesel oil and therefore it is a suitable substitute for the fossil
fuel in both internal and external combustion engines. Combustion of Jatropha oil in an oxy-fuel conditions led
to a 26% NOx reduction as well as up to 70 % heat loss reduction as compared to that of the air/fuel combustion.
The spray flame and emissions of Jatropha -diesel blends burning in oxy-fuel conditions showed that the
emission parameters and flame temperature are higher in diesel than in diesel/jatropha blends by figures in
the range of 18 %
