Diesel-engine generator tests fueled with ethyl and methyl esters of palm oil as catalyzed by potassium hydroxide

Abstract

The research work aims to study the properties of palm oil ethyl ester (POEE) compared with palm oil methyl ester (POME) at the identical mass ratio catalyzed by potassium hydroxide. Subsequently, they are fueled with a diesel-engine generator at a constant engine speed of 3,000 rpm and different loads compared with regular diesel. The results show that the POEE and its mixtures had trivially different properties than the POME blends. The engine performances from using POEE and POME were different. Especially, brake specific fuel consumption of POEE was increased by 3% compared with POME. Compared with POME, the exhaust emissions from using POEE show that the POEE led to the dilation of carbon monoxide and nitric oxide, which increased by 47% and 3%, respectively. Eminently, the POEE reduced carbon dioxide and particulate matter by up to 3% and 7%, respectively. The physical properties, performance parameters, and exhaust emissions from POEE and POME were changed compared to regular diesel. However, they were improved by using diesel blended with both esters.