Abstract
Depletion of oil resources and increase in energy demand have driven the researchers to seek ways to convert the waste products into high quality oils that could replace fossil fuels. Plastic waste is in abundance and can be converted into high quality oil through the pyrolysis process. In this study, pyrolysis oils were produced from polyethylene (LDPE700), the most common used plastic, and ethylene–vinyl acetate (EVA900) at pyrolysis temperatures of 700 °C and 900 °C respectively. The oils were then tested in a four cylinder diesel engine, and the performance, combustion and emission characteristics were analysed in comparison with mineral diesel. It was found that the engine could operate on both oils without the addition of diesel. LDPE700 exhibited almost identical combustion characteristics and brake thermal efficiency to that of diesel operation, with lower NOX, CO and CO2 emissions but higher unburned hydrocarbons (UHC). On the contrary, EVA900 presented longer ignition delay period, lower efficiency (1.5–2%), higher NOX and UHC emissions and lower CO and CO2 in comparison to diesel. The addition of diesel to the EVA900 did not significantly improve the overall engine performance.
Highlights
Plastic consumption is increasing dramatically every year due to the relative low cost of production in comparison to other materials and convenience in use and application
The results showed higher nitrogen oxides, unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide emissions and lower carbon dioxide and brake thermal efficiency than diesel performance
The investigation is focused on the combustion characteristics, engine performance and exhaust emission analysis
Summary
Plastic consumption is increasing dramatically every year due to the relative low cost of production in comparison to other materials and convenience in use and application. Polyethylene is the most common plastic with global production of around 80 million tonnes per year and main application in plastic bags, toys, oil containers, bottles and wrapping foil for packaging [2]. Polyethylene is manufactured from the polymerisation of ethylene polymers with the addition of catalysts and it can be classified into two main categories: low density polyethylene and high density polyethylene. The main uses of the EVA are in adhesives, sealants and coatings applications such as moulded automotive parts, flexible packaging, automobile bumpers, toys, flexible hoses and footwear components. Most of the plastics have very low degradation rate because of the molecular bonds of carbon, hydrogen and few other elements that make them very durable resulting in a serious environmental problem by landfilling them
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