Straight vegetable oil as a diesel fuel?

Vegetable oil is considered as one among the promising alternatives for diesel fuel as it holds properties very close to diesel fuel. However, straight usage of vegetable oil in compression ignition (CI) engine resulted in inferior performance and emission behavior. This can be improved by modifying the straight vegetable oil into its esters, emulsion, and using them as a fuel in CI engine showcased an improved engine behavior. Waste cooking oil (WCO) is one such kind of vegetable oil gained a lot of attraction globally as it is generated in a large quantity locally. The present investigation aims at analyzing various parameters of single cylinder four stroke CI engine fueled with waste cooking oil biodiesel (WCOB), waste cooking oil biodiesel water emulsion (WCOBE) while the engine is operated with a constant speed of 1500 rpm. Furthermore, an attempt is made to study the impact of nanofluids in the behavior of the engine fueled with WCOB blended with nanofluids (WCOBN50). This work also explored a novel method of producing nanofluids using one-step chemical synthesis method. Copper oxide (CuO) nanofluids were prepared by the above mentioned method and blended with waste cooking oil biodiesel (WCOBN50) using ethylene glycol as a suitable emulsifier. Results revealed that brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) of WCOBN50 are significantly improved when compared to WCOB and WCOBE. Furthermore, a higher reduction in oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC), and smoke emissions were observed with WCOBN50 on comparison with all other tested fuels at different power outputs. It is also identified that one-step chemical synthesis method is a promising technique for preparing nanofluids with a high range of stability.

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In Situ Spectroscopic Monitoring of Straight Vegetable Oil Combustion Properties (Sunflower and Soybean Oils)

Advances in Biofuels ◽

10.1007/978-1-4614-6249-1_6 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 89-96

Author(s):

Nelfa Desmira ◽

Shigeaki Morita ◽

Kitagawa Kuniyuki

Keyword(s):

Vegetable Oil ◽

Soybean Oils ◽

Spectroscopic Monitoring ◽

Straight Vegetable Oil ◽

Combustion Properties

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DESIGN OF A MOBILE BIO-DIESEL PRODUCTION FACILITY

Proceedings of the Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA) ◽

10.24908/pceea.v0i0.3863 ◽

2011 ◽

Author(s):

B. J. Drake ◽

M. Jacques ◽

D. Binkley ◽

S. Barghi ◽

R. O. Buchal

Keyword(s):

Particulate Matter ◽

Vegetable Oil ◽

Diesel Fuel ◽

High Speed ◽

Solid Particles ◽

Vacuum Filter ◽

Production Facility ◽

Operational Life ◽

Used Vegetable Oil ◽

Diesel Production

In 2004/2005, a team of mechanical engineering students undertook an interdisciplinary capstone design project to design a mobile bio-diesel production facility capable of converting 500 L/h of used vegetable oil or animal tallow into bio-diesel fuel. Bio-diesel fuel has negligible sulfur content and significantly reduces the emission of particulate matter, e.g. soot and carbon monoxide, compared to the combustion of conventional diesel fuel. Furthermore, bio-diesel fuel is biodegradable, nontoxic, and can be produced from renewable feedstock. The mobile facility is capable of taking used vegetable oil from different sources and processing the oil while in motion, eliminating costs associated with transportation, land use and construction. A special filter was designed to remove any major particulate matter as well as wax-like substances formed by heating of the cooking oil during its operational life. A rotary vacuum filter was designed to continuously of remove wax and solid particles accumulated on the filter cloth. The wax and solid wastes, which are organic compounds, are readily converted to useful light organic molecules through a subsequent gasification process. A transesterification process was applied using methanol as a solvent and sodium hydroxide as a catalyst. A mix of unrefined bio-diesel fuel and glycerol, which is produced by transestrification, is sent to a glycerol separating tower. The separator was designed to efficiently separate bio-diesel fuel from glycerol. The bio-diesel fuel is neutralized by weak acid solution and washed by water to remove impurities. High-speed mixers were designed to create maximum contact between phases for efficient separation. The mobile facility is subject to vibration, which was considered in every aspect of the design. The facility will be powered by bio-diesel fuel, and heat recovery and water recycling were considered to minimize energy requirements. The project culminated in a final design report containing detailed engineering analysis and a comprehensive set of working drawings.

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