Vegetable Oil Diesel Research Articles

Combustion Performance of Biodiesel and Diesel-Vegetable Oil Blends in a Simulated Gas Turbine Burner

Recent increases in fuel costs, concerns for global warming, and limited supplies of fossil fuels have prompted wide spread research on renewable liquid biofuels produced domestically from agricultural feedstock. In this study, two types of biodiesels and vegetable oil (VO) are investigated as potential fuels for gas turbines to generate power. Biodiesels produced from VO and animal fat were considered in this study. The problems of high viscosity and poor volatility of VO (soybean oil) were addressed by using diesel-VO blends with up to 30% VO by volume. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, thermogravimetric analysis, and density, kinematic viscosity, surface tension, and water content measurements were used to characterize the fuel properties. The combustion performance of different fuels was compared experimentally in an atmospheric pressure burner with an air-assist injector and swirling primary air around it. For different fuels, the effect of the atomizing airflow rate on Sauter mean diameter was determined from a correlation for air-assist atomizers. Profiles of nitric oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions were obtained for different atomizing airflow rates, while the total airflow rate was kept constant. The results show that despite the compositional differences, the physical properties and emissions of the two biodiesel fuels are similar. Diesel-VO fuel blends resulted in slightly higher CO emissions compared with diesel, while the NOx emissions correlated well with the flame temperature. The results show that the CO and NOx emissions are determined mainly by fuel atomization and fuel/air mixing processes, and that the fuel composition effects are of secondary importance for fuels and operating conditions of the present study.

Investigation of the Characteristics of the Fuel Injection Pump of a Diesel Engine Fuelled with Viscous Vegetable Oil-Diesel Oil Blends

The potential of vegetable oils as an alternative to diesel fuel has already been proved. Nevertheless, the high viscosity of vegetable oils poses some problems concerning their use in unmodified vehicle diesels. In particular, distortion of the speed characteristics of a distributor fuel injection pump with a maximum-minimum speed mechanical governor when using sunflower oil-diesel oil blends has been observed. A diesel engine fuelled by a viscous blend could not develop its rated power. After fuel delivery was increased to retain the rated power, the engine was overfuelled at lower speeds and the smoke limit was exceeded. In the present paper, measures required to retain the characteristics of an injection pump fuelled by viscous blends are described. This can be done by readjusting the pump governor and changing the hydraulic characteristics of the fuel delivery system.

THE EFFECT OF A WASTE VEGETABLE OIL BLEND WITH DIESEL FUEL ON ENGINE PERFORMANCE

Vegetable oil fuels can be considered a renewable energy resource. Waste vegetable oildiesel fuel blends canrecycle used frying oil, which is essentially a waste product. The objective of this work was to determine the feasibility ofrunning a 10% waste vegetable oil90% diesel fuel blend during a 500h period in a 3cylinder directinjection, 2500 cm 3Diter diesel engine. Periodically, several tests were carried out to evaluate the performance and implications of such anapproach. The longterm performance of this fuel was monitored by measuring the viscosity of the lubricating oil, abnormalfunctioning of the engine, power loss, and excessive smoke output compared to straight diesel fuel. The results revealed anapproximately 12% power loss, slight fuel consumption increase, and normal smoke emissions. Combustion efficiencydropped slightly during the testing period. It can be concluded from this field study that the Diter diesel engine, without anymodifications, ran successfully on a blend of 10% waste oil90% diesel fuel without externally apparent damage to the engineparts. Nevertheless, it appears that the longterm use of waste oil blended with diesel fuel may need further testing beforeuse as a viable energy solution.

Effect of Some Turkish Vegetable Oil-Diesel Fuel Blends on Exhaust Emissions

For different types of vegetable oils of Turkish origin (sunflower, com, soybean, and olive oil) were blended with grade No. 2-D diesel fuel at a ratio of 20/80 (v/v). The effect of the compression ratio on exhaust emissions is investigated in an American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)-cooperative fuel research (CFR) engine working with the mentioned fuel blends and a baseline diesel fuel. A decrease in soot, CO, CO2, and HC emissions and an increase in NOx emissions have been observed for fuel blends compared to diesel fuel.

Engine Endurance with Peanut, Soybean, and Cottonseed Fuels

ABSTRACT TWO single cylinder diesel engines with direct and indirect injection fuel systems, equipped with a dual-fuel provision, were tested burning vegetable oil-diesel fuel blends to evaluate long term durability in comparison to that of the engines burning diesel fuel. Fuels with 10 to 25% (by volume) of vegetable oils performed satisfactorily as indicated by 200-h durability tests. No fuel related part failure was detected.

Piston Ring Deposits When Using Vegetable Oil as a Fuel

Abstract This paper documents the presence of piston ring deposits responsible for sticking piston rings in the diesel engine when using a vegetable oil-diesel fuel blend. It was found that piston ring immobilization is caused by carbon buildup on the combustion chamber side of the rings and in the annular space behind the rings. The carbon buildup is postulated to be the result of a polymerization growth process on preferred metallic surfaces. Most of the growth takes place on the relatively more stationary piston groove rather than on the ring. Carbon buildup preference was found for aluminum rather than cast iron at a common junction of the two metals. Possible solutions to these major problems are summarized.