Effect of Palm Oil Biodiesel Blends on Engine Emission and Performance Characteristics in an Internal Combustion Engine

Increasing global environmental issues and depleting fossil fuel reserves has necessitated the need for alternative and sustainable fuel. In this paper, the effects of biodiesel and its blend on engine emission and performance characteristics in an internal combustion engine were analyzed. Biodiesel derived from the transesterification of raw palm oil was blended with diesel fuel at different proportions designated as PO5 (5% Biodiesel and 95% Diesel), PO10 (10% Biodiesel and 90% Diesel), PO15 (15% Biodiesel and 85% Diesel), PO20 (20% Biodiesel and 80% Diesel), PO50 (50% Biodiesel and 50% Diesel), PO85 (85% Biodiesel and 15% Diesel), and PO100 (100% Biodiesel). A Lombardini 2-cylinder, four-stroke direct injection diesel engine with a compression ratio of 22.8 was developed using Ricardo Wave software in which diesel, palm oil biodiesel blends and pure biodiesel are used in the model, and the obtained results were analysed and presented. The simulation was done under varying engine speeds of 1200 rpm to 3200 rpm at full load condition. Biodiesel and its blends are more environment-friendly and non-toxic when compared to diesel fuel;it also improves the mechanical efficiency of the engines, and above all can also lead to a reduction in poverty among rural dwellers. The obtained results showed that brake specific fuel consumption and brake thermal efficiency increased with palm oil biodiesel blends as compared to diesel fuel which might be a result of biodiesel’s lower heating value, and the increase in thermal energy may be a result of the oxygenation of the biodiesel blend as compared to pure diesel. In terms of brake torque, palm oil biodiesel blends were lesser than diesel fuel. The CO, HC, and NOx emissions of palm oil biodiesel blends decreased significantly compared to that of pure diesel. From this study, palm oil biodiesel emits lesser emissions than diesel fuel and its performance characteristics are similar to diesel fuel. Therefore, palm oil biodiesel can be used without any modifications directly in a diesel engine. In addition, it can also be used as blends as an alternative and sustainable fuel, decreasing air pollution, and increasing environmental sustainability.

Biodiesel from Palm Vegetable Oil

Energy obtained from a variety of non-renewable sources is considered unsustainable. Various fossil fuels, such as petroleum, coal, and natural gas, are among these sources. The combustion of fossil fuels resulted in the generation of greenhouse gases, which increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Global warming and ozone layer degradation are the negative consequences. In a country like India, where consumable oils are still imported, it is sense to look at the possibility of using such unpalatable oils in CI engines that aren’t often utilized as cooking oil. Palm oil is a vegetable oil obtained from the monocarp of the oil palm’s crop. The main goal is to provide a low-cost, high-performance alternative to diesel. The possibility of palm oil as a realistic, modest, and effective hotspot for the generation of biodiesel is investigated in this research. The article is focused on the comparison of palm oil and diesel in terms of characteristics.

Synthesis and Characterization of Bio-Glycerol from Cameroon Palm Kernel Seed Oil

Bio-glycerol was synthesized from Cameroon palm kernel oil (PKO) through the transesterification procedure. Palm kernel oil extracted from palm kernel seeds using mechanical expression and solvent extraction was purified and characterized by physico-chemical methods and used in the transesterification process to give biodiesel and bio-glycerol. The biodiesel was purified and characterized as reported in previous articles. Our focus in this article is on glycerol, an important by-product of the transesterification process which has potential pharmaceutical, cosmetic and engineering applications. The bio-glycerol was purified by acidification and the purified glycerol was subjected to physical and chemical characterization. The specific gravity of glycerol was obtained as 1.2 kg/L, viscosity at 40&degC gave 1500 cSt and 500 cSt at 100&degC;pH was 7.4;the flash point was 160&degC, and the ASTM color was 2.0 before purification and zero after purification. The sulfur content was 0.016%w/v. This sulfur content is low thus posing no environment threat. The chemical composition of the synthesized bio-glycerol determined using IR spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) confirmed the known chemical structure of glycerol. The purification and analysis of bio-glycerol is important as it can find applications in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries inter alia.

Producing Renewable Biodiesel Fuel Using the Transesterification Process

Biodiesel fuels are considered an alternative to fossil fuels. This is one of the effective means of transferring solar energy to dynamic energy via photosynthesis. It is also being considered in order to reduce the levels of carbon dioxide production worldwide. Biodiesel fuels are a renewable, biodegradable, and clean energy source. Producing enough biofuels to replace fossil fuels will bring the advantages of reduced air pollution and reduced other environmental impacts of fossil fuels. In this study, the response surface methodology (RSM) was used to design the experimental runs and to discuss the manufacturing variables on the transesterification of palm oil into fatty acid methyl ester (i.e. biodiesel fuel). The variation of the degree of effect for each variable in the transesterification process was observed. A second-order model was obtained to predict the yield of biodiesel fuel and the viscosity as a function of the reaction time, the mass fraction of catalyst in methanol and the molar ratio of methanol to plant oil. The experimental data of the yield and the viscosity of biodiesel fuels in different manufacturing variables are discussed in this study. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also applied to discuss the main factor and interaction factor effects of the manufacturing variables on the responses of the yield of unrefined biodiesel fuels. The shortage of farmland in Taiwan is a problem that needs to be solved before mass propagation of biofuels can be accomplished. In southeastern Asia, there are many farms and most energy farm products are cultivated (e.g. palm oil or Jatropha oil). In addition to sunflowers and soybeans in Taiwan, those energy farm products are possible choices for production of biodiesel fuel in Taiwan. The cooperation between Indonesia and Taiwan on the plantation of palm or Jatropha trees in Indonesia has conducted and will be one of the possible ways to solve the problem of the shortage of energy farm products in Taiwan.

棕榈油制备生物柴油过程中的物相组成及产品性质

利用棕榈油和甲醇酯交换反应制备生物柴油,并测定了制备过程中各物相的组成以及产品生物柴油的性质。酯交换反应完成后,甲醇在甲酯相和甘油相的分配比例分别是48.4%和51.6%;催化剂NaOH基本上都分布在甘油相中;12.4%的皂分布在甲酯相,87.6%的皂分布在甘油相;0.7%的甲酯溶解在甘油相,1.9%的甘油溶解在甲酯相。棕榈油的转化率为99.0%,生物柴油的收率为97.4%。制得的生物柴油的密度、黏度、游离甘油含量、酸值、碘值、闪点等性质符合我国标准及美国标准。棕榈油生物柴油的冷滤点为13℃,与0#柴油掺混的混合物B10、B20、B30、B40的冷滤点均为1℃,基本可达到0#柴油的标准;从B50到B100,冷滤点递增。

生物柴油副产物甘油精制工艺研究

以棕榈油为原料,碱法催化甲醇与棕榈油进行酯交换反应生成脂肪酸甲酯(即生物柴油)和副产物甘油。副产物粗甘油经过磷酸中和得到甘油半成品,再经过乙醇结晶、分子蒸馏得到高纯度甘油产品。通过正交实验得到乙醇结晶的最佳条件为:结晶温度20℃,结晶时间20 min,乙醇添加量为1∶1(V/W)。乙醇结晶后的甘油在温度110℃,压力30 Pa下进行分子蒸馏,得到纯度为99.5%的高纯度甘油。

不同酯基结构的棕榈油生物柴油的性能研究

以棕榈油为研究对象,分别与甲醇、乙醇、异丙醇和异丁醇进行酯交换反应制备了不同酯基结构的生物柴油。利用差示扫描量热仪和应力控制流变仪分析了不同酯基结构棕榈油生物柴油的结晶行为和低温流变性能,同时分析了酯基结构对生物柴油的氧化稳定性,40℃时的动力黏度、20℃时的密度等重要性质的影响。结果表明,随着醇的碳链长度的增加,棕榈油生物柴油的析蜡点和胶凝点均降低,特别是棕榈油异丁酯的析蜡点和胶凝点分别降低到了-2.57和-8.09℃,低温流动性得到了明显改善,且氧化诱导期略有延长,氧化稳定性有所改善。生物柴油的密度和黏度随着酯基结构的不同而有所变化,但其数值都符合中国生物柴油标准。

负载型固体碱催化棕榈油酯交换制备生物柴油

采用浸渍法制备了KF/CaO,K2CO3/CaO,KF/γ-Al2O3,K2CO3/γ-Al2O34种负载型固体碱催化剂。考察了催化剂种类对棕榈油与甲醇进行酯交换反应的影响,并研究了催化剂重复使用的可能性。实验结果表明,4种催化剂均具有较高的活性,在催化剂中活性组分负载量为20.0%(相对于载体的质量分数)、n(甲醇):n(棕榈油)=12、m(催化剂):m(棕榈油)=0.09、反应温度65℃、反应时间6h的条件下,生物柴油的收率依次为97.3%,93.4%,77.7%,96.2%。以CaO为载体的催化剂再生后活性较低,而以γ-Al2O3为载体的催化剂再生后活性较高。X射线衍射和热重-差热分析结果显示,催化剂活性的差异与煅烧过程中活性组分和载体相互作用形成的新晶相有关,再生后催化活性的降低是由于活性组分流失所致。

棕榈油生物柴油低温流动性的改进及其对氧化稳定性的影响

文章对棕榈油生物柴油的低温流动性和氧化稳定性进行了分析,发现棕榈油生物柴油具有较好的氧化稳定性,但是低温流动性较差。通过不同的方法(与-10#柴油、油酸甲酯、菜籽油生物柴油按照不同体积比混合)对棕榈油生物柴油的低温流动性进行了改进,并利用流变仪和Rancimat法分析了改进方法对棕榈油生物柴油低温流动性及氧化稳定性的影响。研究结果表明:与油酸甲酯混合可以降低棕榈油生物柴油的胶凝点,但其氧化稳定性随之变差;当棕榈油生物柴油的体积含量为5%~20%时,与-10#柴油的混合使得油样的胶凝点低于-10℃,氧化诱导期大于20 h;当棕榈油生物柴油的体积含量低于40%时,与菜籽油生物柴油的混合使得油样的胶凝点低于0℃,氧化诱导期大于6 h。

棕榈油生物柴油加工技术研究进展

棕榈油是世界上最经济的植物油,与其他油料作物相比,油棕果及油的产量均最高,棕榈油作为生物质能源的原料越来越被重视,成为生产生物柴油最有竞争力的原料。目前,世界各国对棕榈油生物柴油的高效加工技术均展开了广泛的研究。本文介绍了国内外棕榈油生物柴油的加工技术,包括化学法、酶法、多相固体催化法及其他一些方法。

棕榈油生物柴油低温流动性改善研究

研究添加降凝剂和乳化分离两种方法改善棕榈油生物柴油低温流动性。结果表明,在分别添加GE东芝有机硅油、Duralt、聚甘油脂肪酸酯、蔗糖酯S-1570、蔗糖酯S-270降凝剂后生物柴油的低温流动性得到显著改善,其中聚甘油脂肪酸酯效果最为显著,添加0.02%可使棕榈油生物柴油的冷滤点从1℃降至-7℃。在14℃下采用乳化分离棕榈油生物柴油得到液体棕榈油生物柴油,通过正交试验得到乳化分离的最佳条件为:加入0.2%十二烷基苯磺酸钠,1.5%硫酸镁,150%电解质溶液。最佳条件下液体棕榈油生物柴油得率76.2%,冷滤点-5℃。

桐油生物柴油的制备研究

以桐油为原料、有机碱为催化剂,在连续撞击流反应器中进行制备生物柴油的研究。采用单因素实验考察了反应条件对脂肪酸甲酯得率的影响。得到了最佳的反应条件为:反应温度125℃,反应压力0.8 MPa,醇油摩尔比8∶1,油脂体积空速1.0 h-1,催化剂加入量8%。在最佳反应条件下,脂肪酸甲酯得率为78%。桐油通过与棕榈油调和(按质量分数各50%)制备生物柴油,脂肪酸甲酯得率平均提高了12个百分点,所得产品符合GB/T 20828—2007的要求。

棕榈油酯交换制备生物柴油的反应动力学

在甲醇与棕榈油的摩尔比为6∶1和催化剂KOH用量为棕榈油质量1.0%的条件下,研究不同温度下棕榈油制备生物柴油的酯交换反应动力学,采用Origin软件拟合曲线方程,建立棕榈油酯交换反应的宏观动力学模型。研究结果表明:棕榈油制备生物柴油的酯交换反应遵循1.40级动力学方程,反应速率随温度的升高而加快,二者符合Arrhenius方程,该反应的活化能为27.23 kJ/mol,频率因子为1.4×103。文中研究建立的反应动力学模型将对扩大试验研究提供理论依据和基础数据支持。

以棕榈酸化油为原料微波法制备生物柴油的研究

研究了在微波辐射下,棕榈酸化油在催化剂作用下和甲醇反应制备生物柴油的过程。实验结果表明:该反应最适宜的操作条件为微波输出功率160 W,微波反应时间110 min,醇油物质的量比7:1,催化剂用量2.50 g(相对于100 g的棕榈酸化油),在此条件下反应转化率达到98.78%。与传统的水浴加热相比,采用微波辐射加热制备生物柴油的反应速率快、耗能少、转化率高。

SRCA工艺在棕榈油生产生物柴油上的应用

研究开发了棕榈油制备生物柴油的SRCA工艺,并对反应条件进行了优化。结果表明,以24℃棕榈油为原料,在优化的反应条件下,即反应温度200~280℃、压力6~10 MPa、mM t/mO ils为0.446~0.669、反应时间20~120 m in,生物柴油的评价收率为96.5%,产品酸值0.53 mgKOH/g;以棕榈酸油为原料,在上述同样的优化反应条件下,生物柴油的评价收率为94.3%,产品酸值4.56 mgKOH/g。在规模为2000 t/a生物柴油的中试装置上,以24℃棕榈油为原料,基本重复了小试结果,生物柴油的评价收率为95.1%,产品酸值0.62 mgKOH/g。在加工规模为60000 t/a生物柴油的装置上,按照小试的优化条件运行,得到生物柴油的评价收率为94.2%,产品酸值6.23 mgKOH/g。由24℃棕榈油和棕榈酸油制备的生物柴油质量基本一致,按质量分数5%调入到-10#柴油中,与-10#柴油相比,满足其质量指标要求。

K_2CO_3/γ-Al_2O_3催化棕榈油和甲醇酯交换反应制备生物柴油

采用浸渍法制备K2CO3/γ-Al2O3负载型固体碱催化剂,用X线衍射(XRD)和热质量分析法(DSC-TGA)表征催化剂的物化性质,考察催化剂在棕榈油和甲醇酯交换制备生物柴油中的反应性能。结果表明:活性组分已成功负载到载体γ-Al2O3上,且在高温焙烧过程中K2CO3和γ-Al2O3之间产生了相互作用;在K2CO3负载量22.6%、醇油摩尔比12∶1、反应时间3h、催化剂质量分数3%、反应温度65℃的条件下,甲酯产率最高可达91.6%。