Characteristics of diesel engine using waste cooking oil

Abstract

This experiment studies the characteristics of diesel engine using biodiesel (UCME) product from waste vegetable cooking oil which was collected from restaurants. WCO biodiesel is one of the promising alternative fuels for diesel engine due to its low cost and similarity of its properties to diesel fuel. This biofuel was prepared by Transesterification method which was used to obtain renewable fuel from WCO. The Transesterification used Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) as a catalyst and Methanol as solvent. The performance characteristics of UCME were obtained by combustion blends of biodiesel (B2%, B5%, B7% and B10%) in one cylinder direct injection C.I. engine operating at 3000 rpm. The biodiesel was blended with pure diesel to reduce UCME high viscosity which restricts their direct use in diesel engine. The fuel properties and the combustion characteristics of UCME are found to be close to that of diesel. A minor decrease in thermal efficiency (especially for blends B2 and B5) was observed. Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Unburnt Hydrocarbon (HC), Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions of biodiesel blends was found to be higher than that of diesel whereas Oxygen (O2) emission was found less. The use of Transesterified used cooking oil and its blends as fuel for diesel engines will reduce dependence on fossil fuels and also decrease considerably the environmental pollution