Performance and emission study of waste anchovy fish biodiesel in a diesel engine

Waste anchovy fish oils transesterification was studied with the purpose of achieving the conditions for biodiesel usage in a single cylinder, direct injection compression ignition. With this purpose, the pure biodiesel produced from anchovy fish oil, biodiesel-diesel fuel blends of 25%:75% biodiesel-diesel (B25), 50%:50% biodiesel-diesel (B50), 75%:25% biodiesel-diesel (B75) and petroleum diesel fuels were used in the engine to specify how the engine performance and exhaust emission parameters changed. The fuel properties of test fuels were analyzed. Tests were performed at full load engine operation with variable speeds of 1000, 1500, 2000 and 2500 rpm engine speeds. As results of investigations on comparison of fuels with each other, there has been a decrease with 4.14% in fish oil methyl ester (FOME) and its blends' engine torque, averagely 5.16% reduction in engine power, while 4.96% increase in specific fuel consumption have been observed. On one hand there has been average reduction as 4.576%, 21.3%, 33.42% in CO₂, CO, HC, respectively; on the other hand, there has been increase as 9.63%, 29.37% and 7.54% in O₂, NO_x and exhaust gas temperature has been observed. It was also found that biodiesel from anchovy fish oil contains 37.93 wt.% saturated fatty acids which helps to improve cetane number and lower NO_x emissions. Besides, for biodiesel and its blends, average smoke opacity was reduces about 16% in comparison to D2. It can be concluded that waste anchovy fish obtained from biodiesel can be used as a substitute for petroleum diesel in diesel engines.     

Fuel consumption and emissions from a diesel power generator fuelled with castor oil and soybean biodiesel

This work investigates the impacts on fuel consumption and exhaust emissions of a diesel power generator operating with biodiesel. Fuel blends with 5%, 20%, 35%, 50%, and 85% of soybean biodiesel in diesel oil, and fuel blends containing 5%, 20%, and 35% of castor oil biodiesel in diesel oil were tested, varying engine load from 9.6 to 35.7 kW. Specific fuel consumption (SFC) and the exhaust concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrocarbons (HC) were evaluated. The engine was kept with its original settings for diesel oil operation. The results showed increased fuel consumption with higher biodiesel concentration in the fuel. Soybean biodiesel blends showed lower fuel consumption than castor biodiesel blends at a given concentration. At low and moderate loads, CO emission was increased by nearly 40% and over 80% when fuel blends containing 35% of castor oil biodiesel or soybean biodiesel were used, respectively, in comparison with diesel oil. With the load power of 9.6 kW, the use of fuel blends containing 20% of castor oil biodiesel or soybean biodiesel increased HC emissions by 16% and 18%, respectively, in comparison with diesel oil. Exhaust CO₂ concentration did not change significantly, showing differences lower than ±3% of the values recorded for diesel oil operation, irrespective of biodiesel type, concentration and the load applied. The results demonstrate that optimization of fuel injection system is required for proper engine operation with biodiesel.     

Feasibility of blending karanja vegetable oil in petro-diesel and utilization in a direct injection diesel engine

Karanja (Pongamia pinnata) oil, a non-edible high viscosity (27.84 cSt at 40 °C) straight vegetable oil, was blended with conventional diesel in various proportions to evaluate the performance and emission characteristics of a single cylinder direct injection constant speed diesel engine. Diesel and karanja oil fuel blends (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) were used to conduct short-term engine performance and emission tests at varying loads (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%). Tests were carried out over the entire range of engine operation and engine performance parameters such as fuel consumption, thermal efficiency, exhaust gas temperature, and exhaust emissions (smoke, CO, CO₂, HC, NO_x, and O₂) were recorded. The brake specific energy consumption (BSEC), brake thermal efficiency (BTE), and exhaust emissions were evaluated to determine the optimum fuel blend. Higher BSEC was observed at full load for neat petro-diesel. A fuel blend of 10% karanja oil (KVO10) showed higher BTE at a 60% load. Similarly, the overall emission characteristics were found to be best for the case of KVO10 over the entire range of engine operation.     

Study of the performance,emission and combustion characteristics of a diesel engine using poon oil-based fuels

Experiments were conducted to study the performance, emission and combustion characteristics of a DI diesel engine using poon oil-based fuels. In the present work, poon oil and poon oil methyl ester are tested as diesel fuels in Neat and blended forms. The blends were prepared with 20% poon oil and 40% poon oil methyl ester separately with standard diesel on a volume basis. The reductions in smoke, hydrocarbon and CO emissions were observed for poon oil methyl ester and its diesel blend along with increased NO_x emission compared to those of standard diesel. However, a reduction in NO_x emission and an increase in smoke, hydrocarbon and CO emissions were observed for Neat poon oil and its diesel blend compared to those of standard diesel. The 40% poon oil methyl ester blend showed a 2% increase in brake thermal efficiency compared to that of standard diesel, whereas other fuels tested showed a decreasing trend. From the combustion analysis it was found that ignition delay was shorter for all fuels tested compared to that of standard diesel. The combustion characteristics of poon oil methyl ester and its diesel blend closely followed those of standard diesel.     

Biodiesel development from high acid value polanga seed oil and performance evaluation in a CI engine

Non-edible filtered high viscous (72 cSt at 40 °C) and high acid value (44 mg KOH/gm) polanga (Calophyllum inophyllum L.) oil based mono esters (biodiesel) produced by triple stage transesterification process and blended with high speed diesel (HSD) were tested for their use as a substitute fuel of diesel in a single cylinder diesel engine. HSD and polanga oil methyl ester (POME) fuel blends (20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%) were used for conducting the short-term engine performance tests at varying loads (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%). Tests were carried out over entire range of engine operation at varying conditions of speed and load. The brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) and brake thermal efficiency (BTE) were calculated from the recorded data. The engine performance parameters such as fuel consumption, thermal efficiency, exhaust gas temperature and exhaust emissions (CO, CO₂, HC, NO_x, and O₂) were recorded. The optimum engine operating condition based on lower brake specific fuel consumption and higher brake thermal efficiency was observed at 100% load for neat biodiesel. From emission point of view the neat POME was found to be the best fuel as it showed lesser exhaust emission as compared to HSD.     

Microwave assisted in continuous biodiesel production from waste frying palm oil and its performance in a 100 kW diesel generator

A household microwave (800W) was modified as a biodiesel reactor for continuous transethylation of waste frying palm oil. The high free fatty acid oil was simultaneously neutralized and transesterified with sodium hydroxide. With the ethanol to oil molar ratio of 12:1, 3.0% NaOH (in ethanol) and 30s residence time, the continuous conversion of waste frying palm oil to ethyl ester was over 97%. The waste palm oil biodiesel was then tested in a 100 kW diesel generator as a neat fuel (B100) and 50% blend with diesel No. 2 fuel (B50). The engine performance and emission are recorded. At the engine loads varied from 0 kW to 75 kW (at 25 kW intervals) of the maximum electrical rating, the performance of the neat and B50 are slightly lower than diesel No. 2 fuel. Emissions of NO_x, CO and HC from B100 and B50 are lower than those of diesel No. 2 fuel, except that at the 75 kW engine load, where the B100 emits higher levels of NO_x than the diesel No. 2 fuel.     

Utilization of unattended methyl ester of paradise oil as fuel in diesel engine

Engine tests have been carried out with the aim of obtaining the performance, emission and combustion characteristics of a diesel engine running on methyl ester of paradise oil (MEPS) and its diesel blends. From the emission analysis it was found that there was a significant reduction in smoke and hydrocarbon emissions by 33% and 22% respectively for MEPS 50 blend and 40% and 27% reductions for MEPS 100. However, there was an increase of 5% and 8% NO_x emission for MEPS 50 and MEPS 100 respectively. Brake thermal efficiencies of MEPS and its diesel blends are slightly lower than that of std. diesel. From the engine analysis, it was found that the performance of MEPS and its diesel blends were similar to that of std. diesel.     

Experimental evaluation of DI diesel engine operating with diestrol at varying injection pressure and injection timing

The use of biodiesel as an alternative in a diesel engine for extended period causes several engine operating problems such as injector coking, piston ring sticking, unfavorable pumping and spray characteristics due to the high viscosity of biodiesel compared to conventional diesel. In this study, a blend of 30% waste cooking palm oil (WCO) methyl ester, 60% diesel and 10% ethanol was selected based on stability test conducted and named as diestrol. The effect of diestrol fuel on the performance, emission and combustion characteristics of a direct injection diesel engine at varying injection pressure and timing was studied through experimental investigation. Maximum brake thermal efficiency of 31.3% was obtained at an injection pressure of 240 bar and injection timing of 25.5° bTDC. Compared to diesel, diestrol fuel showed reduction in carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and smoke emission by 33%, 6.3% and 27.3% respectively. Diestrol fuel decreased nitric oxide (NO) emission by 4.3%, while slight increase in the levels of unburnt hydrocarbon (UHC) was observed. Diestrol fuel exhibited higher cylinder gas pressure and heat release rate compared to diesel. Minimum ignition delay of 12.7° CA was observed with diestrol fuel which was similar to diesel at same operating condition.     

Emission characteristics using methyl soyate–ethanol–diesel fuel blends on a diesel engine

A blend of 20% (v/v) ethanol/methyl soyate was prepared and added to diesel fuel as an oxygenated additive at volume percent levels of 15 and 20% (denoted as BE15 and BE20). We also prepared a blend containing 20% methyl soyate in diesel fuel (denoted as B20). The fuel blends that did not have any other additive were stable for up to 3 months. Engine performance and emission characteristics of the three different fuels in a diesel engine were investigated and compared with the base diesel fuel. Observations showed that particulate matter (PM) emission decreased with increasing oxygenate content in the fuels but nitrogen oxides (NO_x) emissions increased. The diesel engine fueled by BE20 emitted significantly less PM and a lower Bosch smoke number but the highest NO_x among the fuel blends tested. All the oxygenate fuels produced moderately lower CO emissions relative to diesel fuel. The B20 blend emitted less total hydrocarbon (THC) emissions compared with base diesel fuel. This was opposite to the fuel blends containing ethanol (BE15, BE20), which produced much higher THC emission.     

Performance, emission and combustion characteristics of poon oil and its diesel blends in a DI diesel engine

Experimental tests have been carried out to evaluate the performance, emission and combustion characteristics of a diesel engine using Neat poon oil and its blends of 20%, 40%, and 60%, and standard diesel fuel separately. The common problems posed when using vegetable oil in a compression ignition engine are poor atomization; carbon deposits, ring sticking, etc. This is because of the high viscosity and low volatility of vegetable oil. When blended with diesel, poon oil presented lower viscosity, improved volatility, better combustion and less carbon deposit. It was found that there was a reduction in NO_x emission for Neat poon oil and its diesel blends along with a marginal increase in HC and CO emissions. Brake thermal efficiency was slightly lower for Neat poon oil and its diesel blends. From the combustion analysis, it was found that poon oil-diesel blends performed better than Neat poon oil.     

Study of oxygenated biomass fuel blends on a diesel engine

Vegetable methyl ester was added in ethanol–diesel fuel to prevent separation of ethanol from diesel in this study. The ethanol blend proportion can be increased to 30% in volume by adding the vegetable methyl ester. Engine performance and emissions characteristics of the fuel blends were investigated on a diesel engine and compared with those of diesel fuel. Experimental results show that the torque of the engine is decreased by 6%–7% for every 10% (by volume) ethanol added to the diesel fuel without modification on the engine. Brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) increases with the addition of oxygen from ethanol but equivalent brake specific fuel consumption (EBSFC) of oxygenated fuels is at the same level of that of diesel. Smoke and particulate matter (PM) emissions decrease significantly with the increase of oxygen content in the fuel. However, PM reduction is less significant than smoke reduction. In addition, PM components are affected by the oxygenated fuel. When blended fuels are used, nitrogen oxides (NO_x) emissions are almost the same as or slightly higher than the NO_x emissions when diesel fuel is used. Hydrocarbon (HC) is apparently decreased when the engine was fueled with ethanol–ester–diesel blends. Fuelling the engine with oxygenated diesel fuels showed increased carbon monoxide (CO) emissions at low and medium loads, but reduced CO emissions at high and full loads, when compared to pure diesel fuel.     

Combustion characteristics of waste-oil produced biodiesel/diesel fuel blends

In this study, wasted cooking oil from restaurants was used to produce neat (pure) biodiesel through transesterification, and this converted biodiesel was then used to prepare biodiesel/diesel blends. The goal of this study was to compare the trace formation from the exhaust tail gas of a diesel engine when operated using the different fuel type: neat biodiesel, biodiesel/diesel blends, and normal diesel fuels. B20 produced the lowest CO concentration for all engine speeds. B50 produced higher CO₂ than other fuels for all engine speeds, except at 2000 rpm where B20 gave the highest. The biodiesel and biodiesel/diesel blend fuels produced higher NO_x for various engine speeds as expected. SO₂ formation not only showed an increasing trend with increased engine speed but also showed an increasing trend as the percentage of diesel increased in the fuels. Among the collected data, the PM concentrations from B100 engines were higher than from other fuelled engines for the tested engine speed and most biodiesel-contained fuels produced higher PM than the pure diesel fuel did. Overall, we may conclude that B20 and B50 are the optimum fuel blends. The species of trace formation in the biodiesel-contained fuelled engine exhaust were mainly C_nH_2n+2, DEP, and DPS. For the B100, B80, B50, and D fuelled engines, C₁₅H₃₂ was the dominant species for all engine speeds, while squalene (C₃₀H₅₀) was the dominant for B20. DEP was only observed in the B100, B80, and B50 fuelled engines in this study. The D fuelled engine showed a higher DPS production for engine speeds higher than 1200 rpm.     

Utilization of ethyl ester of waste vegetable oils as fuel in diesel engines

Jordan relies heavily on expensive and unreliable imported oil. Therefore, this study was initiated to investigate the potential of ethyl ester used as vegetable oil (VO; biodiesel) to substitute oil-based diesel fuel. The fuels tested were several ester/diesel blends including 100% ester in addition to diesel fuel, which served as the baseline fuel. Variable-speed tests were run on all fuels on a standard test rig of a single-cylinder, direct-injection diesel engine. Tests were conducted to compare these blends with the baseline local diesel fuel in terms of engine performance and exhaust emissions. The results indicated that the blends burned more efficiently with less specific fuel consumption, and therefore, resulted in higher engine thermal efficiency. Furthermore, the blends produced less carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons than diesel fuel. The 100% ester fuel and the blend of 75:25 ester/diesel gave the best performance while the 50:50 blend consistently resulted in the lowest amounts of emissions over the whole speed range tested.     

Experimental study on diesel engine nitrogen oxide reduction running with jojoba methyl ester by exhaust gas recirculation

Jojoba methyl ester (JME) has been used as a renewable fuel in numerous studies evaluating its potential use in diesel engines. These studies showed that this fuel is a very good gas oil substitute but an increase in the nitrogenous oxides emissions was observed at all operating conditions. The aim of this study mainly was to quantify the efficiency of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) when using JME fuel in a fully instrumented, two-cylinder, naturally aspirated, four-stroke direct injection diesel engine. The tests were made in two sections. Firstly, the measured performance and exhaust emissions of the diesel engine operating with diesel fuel and JME are determined and compared. Secondly, tests were performed at two speeds and loads to investigate the EGR effect on engine performance and exhaust emissions including nitrogenous oxides (NO_x), carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbons (HC) and exhaust gas temperatures. Also, effect of cooled EGR with high ratio at full load on engine performance and emissions was examined. The results showed that EGR is an effective technique for reducing NO_x emissions with JME fuel especially in light duty diesel engines. A better trade-off between HC, CO and NO_x emissions can be attained within a limited EGR rate of 5-15% with very little economy penalty.     

Performance and combustion characteristics of a DI diesel engine fueled with waste palm oil and canola oil methyl esters

This study discusses the performance and combustion characteristics of a direct injection (DI) diesel engine fueled with biodiesels such as waste (frying) palm oil methyl ester (WPOME) and canola oil methyl ester (COME). In order to determine the performance and combustion characteristics, the experiments were conducted at the constant engine speed mode (1500 rpm) under the full load condition of the engine. The results indicated that when the test engine was fueled with WPOME or COME, the engine performance slightly weakened; the combustion characteristics slightly changed when compared to petroleum based diesel fuel (PBDF). The biodiesels caused reductions in carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbon (HC) emissions and smoke opacity, but they caused to increases in nitrogen oxides (NO_x) emissions.     

Performance, emission and combustion evaluation of soapnut oil-diesel blends in a compression ignition engine

Soapnut (Sapindus mukorossi) oil, a nonedible straight vegetable oil was blended with petroleum diesel in various proportions to evaluate the performance and emission characteristics of a single cylinder direct injection constant speed diesel engine. Diesel and soapnut oil (10%, 20%, 30% and 40%) fuel blends were used to conduct short-term engine performance and emission tests at varying loads in terms of 25% load increments from no load to full loads. Tests were carried out for engine operation and engine performance parameters such as fuel consumption, brake thermal efficiency, and exhaust emissions (smoke, CO, UBHC, NO_x, and O₂) were recorded. Among the blends SNO 10 has shown a better performance with respect to BTE and BSEC. All blends have shown higher HC emissions after about 75% load. SNO 10 and SNO 20 showed lower CO emissions at full load. NO_x emission for all blends was lower and SNO 40 blend achieved a 35% reduction in NO_x emission. SNO 10% has an overall better performance with regards to both engine performance and emission characteristics.     

Comparative evaluation of performance and emission characteristics of jatropha, karanja and polanga based biodiesel as fuel in a tractor engine

Non-edible jatropha (Jatropha curcas), karanja (Pongamia pinnata) and polanga (Calophyllum inophyllum) oil based methyl esters were produced and blended with conventional diesel having sulphur content less than 10 mg/kg. Ten fuel blends (Diesel, B20, B50 and B100) were tested for their use as substitute fuel for a water-cooled three cylinder tractor engine. Test data were generated under full/part throttle position for different engine speeds (1200, 1800 and 2200 rev/min). Change in exhaust emissions (Smoke, CO, HC, NO_x, and PM) were also analyzed for determining the optimum test fuel at various operating conditions. The maximum increase in power is observed for 50% jatropha biodiesel and diesel blend at rated speed. Brake specific fuel consumptions for all the biodiesel blends with diesel increases with blends and decreases with speed. There is a reduction in smoke for all the biodiesel and their blends when compared with diesel. Smoke emission reduces with blends and speeds during full throttle performance test.     

Comparative environmental behavior of bus engine operating on blends of diesel fuel with four straight vegetable oils of Greek origin: Sunflower, cottonseed, corn and olive

An experimental study is conducted to evaluate the use of sunflower, cottonseed, corn and olive straight vegetable oils (SVO) of Greek origin, in blends with diesel fuel at proportions of 10 vol.% and 20 vol.%, in a fully instrumented, six-cylinder, turbocharged and after-cooled, heavy duty (HD), direct injection (DI), ‘Mercedes-Benz’, mini-bus engine installed at the authors’ laboratory. The series of tests are conducted using each of the above blends, with the engine working at two speeds and three loads. Fuel consumption, exhaust smokiness and exhaust regulated gas emissions such as nitrogen oxides (NO_x), carbon monoxide (CO) and total unburned hydrocarbons (HC) are measured. With reference to the corresponding neat diesel fuel operation, the vegetable oil blends show reduction of emitted smoke with slight increase of NO_x and effectively unaffected thermal efficiency. Theoretical aspects of diesel engine combustion, combined with the very widely differing physical and chemical properties of the vegetable oils against those for the diesel fuel, aid to the correct interpretation of the observed engine behavior.     

Fuel production from waste vehicle tires by catalytic pyrolysis and its application in a diesel engine

An alternative fuel production was performed by pyrolysis of waste vehicle tires under nitrogen (N₂) environment and with calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂) as catalyst. The sulfur content of liquids obtained were reduced by using Ca(OH)₂. The liquid fuel of waste vehicle tires(TF) was then used in a diesel engine to blend with petroleum diesel fuel by 5%(TF5), 10%(TF10), 15%(TF15), 25%(TF25), 35%(TF35), 50%(TF50), and 75%(TF75) wt. and pure (TF100). Performance characteristics such as engine power, engine torque, brake specific fuel consumption (bsfc) and exhaust temperature and emission parameters such as oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon monoxides (CO), total unburned hydrocarbon (HC), sulfur dioxides (SO₂) and smoke opacity of the engine operation with TF and blend fuels of TF-diesel were experimentally investigated and compared with those of petroleum diesel fuel. It was concluded that the blends of pyrolysis oil of waste tires TF5, TF10, TF25 and TF35 can efficiently be used in diesel engines without any engine modifications. However, the blends of TF50, TF75 and TF100 resulted considerably to high CO, HC, SO₂ and smoke emissions.     

Emission Reduction of Regenerative Fuel Powered Co-Generation Plants with SCR- and Oxidation-Catalysts

Since the beginning of combustion engine development in this recent century various different fuels have been successfully tested. Diesel engines have been adapted to fuels made from mineral oils because of the rising importance and the cheapness in comparison to other fuels. On the other hand, it is possible to burn regenerative fuels in engines and achieve some significant advantages in comparison to fossil diesel fuel. This is, for example, a closed carbon dioxide (CO₂) cycle which causes no green house effect. It is possible to extract oil from various seeds like rapeseed. It is also possible to burn used oil from the food processing industry or waste grease and oil from food recycling companies. The great advantages: (1) food recycling oils can produce energy instead of use as animal food, and (2) as nobody knows exactly the consistency of the collected oils, poisonous pollution is possible. These regenerative fuels can be burned without any further processing in special adapted diesel engines, for example an Elsbett engine, or in precombustion engines with large swept volumes. Most researchers focused on operating diesel engines with regenerative fuels and reducing the emissions caring only about regulated exhaust components. In comparison to these studies it is necessary to learn more about the emissions beyond the exhaust regulations. Additionally emission reduction is possible by using an SCR-catalyst (selective catalytic reduction) to reduce the NO₂ combined with an oxidation-catalyst which reduces any kind of oxidisable emissions. The TU München, Lehrstuhl für Energie- und Umwelttechnik der Lebensmittelindustrie, operates a small co-generation plant with the ability of analysing the standard emission components (CO, NO₂, HC, particles, CO₂, O₂) and unregulated components (SO₂, NH₃, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), aldehyde, ketone). The emissions show some significant differences in comparison to fossil diesel fuel which is caused by the diversity of each fuel. Results of an investigation on four different fuels (wastefat methyl ester (WME), rapeseed methyl ester (RME), rapeseed oil and diesel fuel) burned in a small co-generation plant with a SCR- and oxidation-catalyst will be presented. A comparison to the emissions before and after the catalysts will be shown additionally to the results of the different reduction potential of diesel fuel, methyl ester or untreated oils. The combination of regenerative fuel and catalyst shows good potential for reducing the emissions. Furthermore the use of regenerative fuels is a sustainable production of energy with an overall efficiency of almost 90%. Regenerative fuels based on vegetable oils and waste fat are a valuable form of energy and have some significant advantages in comparison to diesel fuel, like an almost closed carbon dioxide cycle, rapid biological decomposition and lower CO, HC and particle emissions. Regenerative fuels should also meet minimum standards discussed in the paper to avoid the risk of engine damage and to reduce emissions.