Performance test of a diesel engine using transesterified soybean oil mixed with diesel fuel

Abstract

The study focused on the feasibility of soybean oil to use as a biofuel. This study presented the viability of soybean oil in terms of density, flashpoint, sulfur, heating value, specific fuel consumption, and ash content. It also showed the performance result when tested on a diesel engine in terms of fuel consumption, revolution per minute, the temperature at the exhaust pipe, cylinder head, engine block, brake power, and brake thermal efficiency. Soybean oil undergoes the process of transesterification to be used as a biofuel. It was mixed with commercially available diesel fuel upon testing in the diesel engine. The mixture contained 90% diesel fuel and 10% transesterified soybean oil. After testing, the performance of the diesel engine was measured. Transesterified soybean oil was feasible to use as a fuel according to the testing conducted. However, some improvements must have been made to increase the brake thermal efficiency. Evaluating different mixtures for diesel fuel and transesterified soybean oil must also be considered to get more efficient data. It is recommended to include emission testing for future studies.