A study on combustion of blended straight vegetable oil in marine diesel engine cylinders

Abstract

Straight vegetable oil (SVO) is widely recommended as fuel for diesel engines in general and especially for marine diesel engines. However, SVOs used directly as fuel for diesel engines may cause problems for the engines; SVOs blended with diesel oil are a better choice. To widen understanding of the possibility of using blended SVOs as fuel alternatives, this paper presents results of experimental research on the combustion of blended straight vegetable oil in a marine diesel engine’s cylinders. Results show that the fuel combustion process have the same curves as in simulations and, in the case of using blended fuels with up to 20% palm oil, the test diesel engine technical parameters such as engine output, exhaust gas temperatures, and specific fuel consumption are very similar to those of diesel oil (DO). Based on these results, marine diesel engines are strong potential applications and particularly recommended for the use of SVO blends.