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

• Published in: Fuel (Guildford) Vol. 89; no. 12; pp. 3637 - 3642
• Main Authors: Valente, Osmano Souza, da Silva, Márcio José, Pasa, Vanya Márcia Duarte, Belchior, Carlos Rodrigues Pereira, Sodré, José Ricardo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Air pollution caused by fuel industries; Applied sciences; Biodiesel; Blends; Diesel; Diesel engine; Diesel fuels; Emissions; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Engines and turbines; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel consumption; Fuels; Pollution reduction; Polymer blends; Soybeans; Diesel engine; Fuel consumption; Energy; Biodiesel; Emissions; Air pollution control; Hydrocarbon; Diesel fuel; Engine test; Carbon dioxide; Biofuel; Fuel oil; Optimization; Castor oil; Carbon monoxide; Soybean oil; Fuel injection; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0016-2361; 1873-7153
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2010.07.041

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 (CO 2), 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 CO 2 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.