Measurement on the thermal conductivity of five saturated fatty acid ethyl esters components of biodiesel

Abstract

The utilization of biodiesel, which is considered as a renewable, biodegradable and clean-burning transportation fuel consisting of fatty acid alkyl esters, is a promising way to replace fossil fuels. Thermal conductivity is a very important thermophysical property of the biodiesel. In this work, the liquid thermal conductivity of five saturated fatty acid ethyl esters (ethyl myristate, ethyl laurate, ethyl caprate, ethyl caprylate and ethyl heptanoate) were measured with the temperature ranging within (290.64–393.88) K, (274.73–400.08) K, (270.00–400.44) K, (254.76–400.37) K, (250.38–393.46) K, respectively. The total relative standard uncertainty of the experimental results was estimated to be less than 2% and repeatability was better than ±0.5%. The experimental results of each substance were fitted as a function of temperature. The average absolute relative deviation and maximum absolute relative deviation between the experimental data and calculated results were 0.19% and 0.36% for ethyl myristate, 0.15% and 0.54% for ethyl laurate, 0.17% and 0.38% for ethyl caprate, 0.23% and 0.66% for ethyl caprylate, 0.19% and 0.52% for ethyl heptanoate, respectively.