Evaluation of Properties and use of waste vegetable oil (WVO), pure vegetable oils and standard diesel as used in a compression ignition engine

This work aims to investigate the viability of using vegetable oils and waste oils a an alternative to or additive to basic diesel fuel. Rapeseed oil, sunflower oil and waste cooking oils was used to manufacture bio-diesel oil by the transesterification process using a commercially available “fuelpod”. The base oils were tested to first characterize them against diesel and the characteristics were remeasured after the conversion process. The fuels were then tested on a steady state engine test rig using a modern four cylinder compression ignition engine. Significant improvement in the viscosity was observed in the waste vegetable oils (WVO) after the transesterification process. The specific fuel consumption and exhaust gas emissions were reduced due to decrease in viscosity of the WVO. Acceptable thermal efficiencies of the engine were obtained with biodiesel. From the properties and engine test results it has been establish that biodiesel of WVO can be substituted for diesel without any engine modification and preheating of the fuels. Sustainability issues present an obstacle for general use so only small fleet operators may take advantage of the alternative fuel.