Variation of Engineering Performance and Emissions using Biodiesel Fuels

There is considerable concern over the increasing demand on our limited supply fossil fuel and as a result initiatives are being considered to extend the use of such fossil fuels. In addition there is international concern regarding the associated pollution levels and it is these collective concerns that have increased the demand for alternative fuels to be used in internal combustion engines. This study investigates the engine performance and exhaust emissions of a compression ignition CI engine over its full speed and engine load range when running on differing type of biodiesel. Engine performance, measured as torque, power and specific fuel consumption are recorded at each engine parameter setting along with the exhaust emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbons (HC), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and carbon dioxide (CO2). It is seen that the benefits are not very clear and that reduced emissions may in fact be balanced by reduced performance or that increased performance is offset by higher emissions. Overall conclusion is that the sustainability of biodiesel as a green fuel is in question, with reports that deforestation is taking place to grow fuel stock. The paper will present the empirical results and look towards the peripheral effects of using arable land to satisfy the increasing need for fuel, and question the sustainability of such an approach. The increased demands on engine servicing are also considered within the paper, so presenting a balanced holistic approach to the uses of biofuels. The biodiesel processor was developed for the production of biodiesel from vegetable oils such as rapeseed, soybean, sunflower, corn and waste vegetable oil. The vegetable oils and its biodiesel samples were characterized and their rheological behavior was analyzer.