Diesel engine performance and emission analysis using soybean biodiesel

Abstract

Biodiesel presents a large potential for replacing other fossil-based fuels. Thus, the present work aimed to assess the specific fuel consumption (SFC), thermal efficiency and emissions of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), in a cycle diesel engine-generator set, using soybean biodiesel and diesel as fuels. The experiment was carried out at Western Paraná State University (UNIOESTE), Cascavel Campus. The engine-generator set used in the study was a model BD 6500CF with 7.36 kW (10 cv) of power and 5.5 kVA/5.0 kW of nominal power, with an average output tension of 120/240 V monophase. Fuels used were soybean biodiesel (B100) and diesel oil (B0). Nominal loads applied varied between 1.0 and 5.0 kW. In order to quantify gas emissions, a combustion and emission quality analyzer was used; model PCA®3, Bacharach inc. Soybean biodiesel presented an average consumption increase of 4.3% in all resistive loads, what shows large potential for the usage of soybean biodiesel in the generation of energy, without causing raises in the specific fuel consumption. Soybean biodiesel efficiency has proved to be superior to that of diesel in all resistive loads. As for the emissions, soybean biodiesel provided a reduction of 64% (NO) and 54% (NOx) when compared with diesel oil.

Keywords: Combustion gases, energy generation, specific fuel consumption

African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(19), pp. 2633-2639