Combined Effect of Synthesized Waste Milk Scum Oil Methyl Ester and Ethanol Fuel Blend on the Diesel Engine Characteristics

Abstract

Milk scum is a waste obtained in milk dairies, which can be used as a raw material for producing biodiesel by a transesterification process. In this research study, the biodiesel obtained from milk scum was blended with diesel to make binary blends (B20D80, B60D40 and B100). These binary blends were further blended with ethanol in different percentages to make ternary blends (B20E05D75, B20E10D70, B20E15D65). Physical and chemical properties of binary and ternary blends were investigated and compared. Degradation of physical properties of the prepared biodiesels with respect to time was studied, which is the salient part of the work. Engine performance test was conducted in a single-cylinder diesel engine. Performance of the engine for different blends (both binary and ternary) was recorded and compared. Addition of 5% ethanol showed a decrease in fuel consumption, whereas higher content (15%) of ethanol showed rapid increase in fuel consumption as compared to that of binary blends. Ternary blend containing 5% ethanol showed higher brake thermal efficiency (BTE) compared to D100 (diesel only), while ternary blends containing 10 and 15% ethanol gave lower BTE compared to 5% ethanol and D100. The blend B20E05D75 is considered as better alternative fuel upon comparing mass fuel consumption, air fuel ratio and brake thermal efficiency with all rest of blends tested in this study.