Production of pyrolysis oil from used tyres and the effects of pyrolysis oil-gasoline blends on the performance of a gasoline-powered electric generator

Abstract

This study produces liquid fuel from waste automobile tyres via thermal pyrolysis purposely to investigate the feasibility of replacing conventional fuel with pyrolysis oil in internal combustion engines. Shredded automobile tyres were pyrolysed in an electric-powered pyrolysis reactor and the oil obtained was treated with H2SO4 to remove sludge and to reduce its odour. The treated oil was distilled, and the products obtained have properties similar to gasoline and diesel fuels. The light tyre pyrolysis oil (LTPO) was blended with regular gasoline and the various blends obtained were used in powering an electric generator, and the fuel consumption rate in the generator was observed to reduce with an increase in pyrolysis oil content. Analysis of the exhaust flue gases showed that gasoline-LTPO blends gave a significant reduction in the CO levels. However, the unburnt hydrocarbon (HC) content of the exhaust stream increased with the LTPO content, with the blends containing 60% LTPO having the highest HC level. The conclusion from the study revealed that the tyre pyrolysis oil could possibly replace conventional fuels in internal combustion engines, and the application of the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) approach could resolve the issues of high HC contents in the exhaust stream.