Compatibility of Palm Biodiesel Blends on the Existing Elastomer Fuel Hose in Diesel Engine with Approach of Dynamic Test Rig: A Concept Study

Abstract

Elastomer is one of the important material for the hoses, sealants and tubes in the components of fuel delivery system in diesel engine vehicles due to the factor of compatibility with diesel fuel. However, concern were arise that presence of alcohol, fatty acid component and other factors such as water content in the alternative fuels which is blended biodiesel fuel and different chemical composition from the diesel fuel may increase further uncertainty to the consumer of diesel engine or diesel engine manufacturers in terms of compatibility issue. Thus this paper intends to assess current and typical test standards on their efficacy of representing the fuel system of diesel engine vehicles. Respectively, ASTM D471 are based on laboratory immersion studies and the experimental conditions are differ from the real service conditions in the fuel system of diesel engine vehicles. Even though number of previous studies regarding to the compatibility of elastomer components has been reported, there is a need to set up the exact material that present in the fuel system of diesel engine vehicles. This is especially right for elastomers since their resistance is mainly depends on their elemental compositions. As such, introduction of the dynamic testing approach that may be applied when assessing the compatibility study between blended biodiesel fuel that simulate the actual fuel system of a diesel engine vehicles before carrying out in the field trials.