An Investigation of Viscosities, Calorific Values and Densities of Binary Biofuel Blends

Sharzali Che Mat,M F Hamid,M Y Idroas,Y H Teoh,M.N Nik Hisyamudin,K Amir,M Sofian,I Al Emran,T.A Ahmad Mubarak,M.B Mohd Faizal,I Mohd Rasidi,Z Izzuddin,Md J Mohd Azlis Sani

doi:10.1051/matecconf/201713500004

Abstract

Straight vegetable oil (SVO) biofuel is a promising alternative to petroleum diesel fuel primarily due to its comparable physical properties to that of petroleum diesel fuel. However, the relatively higher viscosity of SVO limits its direct application in diesel engine. To resolve this issue, binary biofuel blends was introduced in this study to reduce the viscosity of SVO. In this work, a novel biofuel namely Melaleuca Cajuputi oil (MCO) was used and blended with refined palm oil (RPO). A total of four blends with the mixing ratios of 20%, 40%, 50% and 60% of MCO were prepared. Various key properties of dynamic viscosity, calorific value and density of the blends were measured and benchmarked against the biodiesel standards based on ASTM D6751. It was found that viscosity and density of the blends decreased with the increase of MCO fraction. Meanwhile, the calorific value of the blends increased linearly as the MCO fraction increased. The blend of 40RPO60MCO was found to have comparable key properties of viscosity, calorific value and density to those of petroleum diesel fuel and ASTM D6751 standard.

Highlights

Straight vegetable oils (SVOs) are gaining popularity as an alternative fuel for diesel engine due to its similar physical properties to that of petroleum diesel fuel
The density of the blends linearly decreases with the increase of Melaleuca Cajuputi oil (MCO) in the blends
The key properties of dynamic viscosity, calorific value (CV) and density of binary biofuel blends (RPOMCO) were successfully analysed and benchmarked against the biodiesel standards based on ASTM D6751

Summary

Introduction

Straight vegetable oils (SVOs) are gaining popularity as an alternative fuel for diesel engine due to its similar physical properties to that of petroleum diesel fuel. The direct use of SVO in diesel engine will lead to severe carbon deposit, fuel injector clog and rapid wears of fuel pump components. These issues are primarily associated with a high viscosity of SVO that dramatically alters fuel spray characteristics, atomization quality and volatility [2]. The produced biodiesel has viscosity and other key properties close to petroleum diesel fuel [2]. This transesterification process involved with a complex yet expensive process where a specific equipment and instrumentation are required. This crude glycerol requires further expensive purification process to produce pure glycerol which has better value added product instead of crude glycerol [3]

Methods

Results

Conclusion