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Depletion in the levels of fossil fuels and increasing environmental concerns associated with the rise in consumption of conventional fuels are among the top global concerns. Finding an alternative sustainable fuel that matches the performance characteristics of diesel/petrol fuels as well as decreases the exhaust emissions has been a challenging task. After deliberate research, it is found that every alternative fuel is associated with different problems when they are used independently, thereby limiting its benefits. Scientists suggest that using different fuel blends might lead to sustainability. This article is the analysis of data obtained from the experimentation based on two different alternative fuels, Rapeseed Methyl Ester (RME)-based biodiesel and Rapeseed Oil (RO), blended with diesel (D) and Isopropanol (P) into three different proportions each. Tests were carried out in a compression ignition (CI) engine, and comparisons are based on the resulted performance and exhaust emission characteristics. The two different alternative fuels are blended into the following proportions to make six fuel mixtures, D50RME30P20, D50RME40P10, D50RME45P5, D50RO30P20, D50RO40P10 and D50RO45P5. The tests are carried out at different loads (BMEP) and are compared to that of pure diesel. Using the experimentation results, we also obtained the combustion characteristics of all fuel mixtures for further evaluation

An experimental investigation is performed in a single-cylinder direct-injection (DI) diesel engine using city diesel oil called DI1 and two blends of DI1 with a mixture of glycol ethers. The addition of glycol ethers to fuel DI1 produced oxygenated fuels GLY10 (10.2 mass-% glycol ethers) and GLY30 (31.3 mass-% glycol ethers) with 3% and 9% oxygen content, respectively. The addition of biofuel rapeseed methyl ester (RME) to fuel DI1 produced oxygenated blend RME30 (31.2 mass-% RME) with 3% oxygen content. Engine tests were performed with the four fuels in the DI diesel engine at 2500 RPM and at 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% of full load. The experimental diesel engine was equipped with devices for recording cylinder pressure, injection pressure, and top dead center (TDC) position and also it was equipped with exhaust gas analyzers for measuring soot, NO, CO, and HC emissions. A MATLAB 2014 code was developed for analyzing recorded cylinder pressure, injection pressure, and TDC position data for all obtained engine cycles and for calculating the main engine performance parameters. The assessment of the experimental results showed that glycol ethers have more beneficial impact on soot and NO emissions compared to RME, whereas RME have less detrimental impact on engine performance parameters compared to glycol ethers.

During a fuel injection cycle pressure inside Combination Electronic Unit Pump (CEUP) fuel injection system varies from low (~50 bars) to very high (~1500 bars) in fractions of seconds depending on the operating conditions. Physical properties of fuel including density, acoustic wave speed and bulk modulus also vary as a function of rapidly varying fuel pressure. A detailed analysis of these key fuel properties with our improved frequency dependent model with viscous damping developed in MATLAB is presented for both diesel and biodiesel fuel Rapeseed Methyl Ester (RME). Quantitative analysis of developed model confirms that model predictions are quite realistic and accurate across range of operating conditions of diesel engine.

This paper presents a comparative analysis of the diesel engine performance and emission characteristics, when operating on diesel fuel and various diesel-biodiesel (B10, B20, B40, B60) blends, at various loads and engine speeds. The experimental tests were performed on a four-stroke, four-cylinder, direct injection, naturally aspirated, 60kW diesel engine D-243. The in-cylinder pressure data was analysed to determine the ignition delay, the Heat Release Rate (HRR), maximum in-cylinder pressure and maximum pressure gradients. The influence of diesel-biodiesel blends on the Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (bsfc) and exhaust emissions was also investigated. The bench test results showed that when the engine running on blends B60 at full engine load and rated speed, the autoignition delay was 13.5% longer, in comparison with mineral diesel. Maximum cylinder pressure decreased about 1–2% when the amount of Rapeseed Methyl Ester (RME) expanded in the diesel fuel when operating at full load and 1400 min–1 speed. At rated mode, the minimum bsfc increased, when operating on biofuel blends compared to mineral diesel. The maximum brake thermal efficiency sustained at the levels from 0.3% to 6.5% lower in comparison with mineral diesel operating at full (100%) load. When the engine was running at maximum torque mode using diesel– RME fuel blends B10, B20, B40 and B60 the total emissions of nitrogen oxides decreased. At full and moderate load, the emission of carbon monoxide significantly raised as the amount of RME in fuel increased. First Published Online:16 Dec 2014

The article presents the results of comparative motor research on FAME biofuels using diesel engine VALMET 320 DMG. Energy (ηe, be) and environmental parameters (CO2, CO, NOx, HC, SM) of the engine were estimated. The obtained data on motor research into new biofuels show that the properties of Camelina sativa biofuels are as good as those observed in standardized rapeseed methyl ester biofuels. In case of using Camelina sativa biofuels blends VME and ZME at different engine loads, exhaust emissions from gas smoke could be reduced up to 10% and 30% accordingly comparing with mineral diesel. When the engine is fueled with tested biofuel blends, carbon monoxide emissions decrease by about 5–6%, and the factor for effective performance increases by approximately 4%. In all range of engine loads, an increase in nitrogen oxide emissions reaching 2–3% was observed. In all cases of using biofuel blends, carbon dioxide emissions keep close to the application of mineral diesel. Santrauka Straipsnyje pateikiami RRME biodegalų palyginamųjų motorinių bandymų, kurie buvo atlikti dyzeliniame variklyje VALMET 320 DMG, rezultatai. Įvertinti variklio energetiniai (ηe, be) ir ekologiniai rodikliai (CO2, CO, NOX, HC, SM). Atliktų naujų biodegalų motoriniai tyrimų rezultatai rodo, kad naujų Camelina sativa biodegalų savybės nenusileidžia standartizuotiems rapso metilesterio biodegalų savybėms. Lyginant su mineraliniu dyzelinu, naudojant Camelina sativa biodegalų mišinius VME ir ZME, skirtingais variklio apkrovos režimais galima sumažinti išmetamųjų dujų dūmingumą atitinkamai iki 10 % ir 30 %. Varikliui dirbant bandomaisiais biodegalų mišiniais, buvo pasiektas 5–6 % anglies monoksido emisijos sumažėjimas ir 4 % naudingo veikimo koeficiento padidėjimas. Visame variklio apkrovos diapazone stebimas 2–3 % azoto oksidų emisijos padidėjimas. Anglies dioksido emisija visais biodegalų naudojimo atvejais išlieka artima mineralinio dyzelino naudojimui. Raktiniai žodžiai: dyzelinis variklis; biodegalai; Camelina sativa; rapso metilesteris

The number of various transport facilities used in Europe is rapidly growing. They release a big amount of pollutants into the atmosphere. Therefore, environment protection from these pollutants ejected by internal combustion engines is a key problem facing us today and which will be acute in the future. Biofuel is the only effective and widely used alternative fuel which can reduce pollution of the environment. The main aim of the present paper is to perform a comparative analysis of burnt gases of engines using rapeseed oil methyl ester and petroleum diesel oil and to determine ecological effectiveness of biofuel used in diesel locomotive engines in railway transport. First published online:27 Oct 2010

The compression ignition and small displacement spark-ignition engines play an important role in the urban air pollution. In particular, vehicles equipped with compression ignition engines are widely used because of their higher performance and fuel efficiency with respect to the spark-ignition ones. Nevertheless, spark-ignition engines with low displacements are even more wide-spreading because of the lower fuel consumption and emissions. They are also used for two-wheeled vehicles, whose easier navigation makes them widely used in heavily congested areas. Their contribution on urban pollution is worsened by the fact that these vehicles have to comply with the Euro 3 standard; light vehicles have, instead, to fulfill the more restrictive Euro 6, which for the compression ignition and gasoline direct injection engines indicates for particle emissions also a number-based regulation. This article aims to characterize the effects of biofuels on engine emissions and performance of compression ignition and spark-ignition engines. The investigation was carried out on different class of engines. Direct injection and a port fuel injection spark-ignition engines fueled with ethanol and its blends, 10 v/v%, 50 v/v% and 85 v/v% of ethanol in gasoline. The compression ignition engine was equipped with a common rail injection system and was fueled with pure rapeseed methyl ester, representative of fatty acid methyl ester, and its blends in diesel, 20 v/v% and 50 v/v%. The gaseous emissions and the particle concentration were measured at the exhaust by means of conventional instruments. Particle size distribution function was measured in the range from 5.6 to 560 nm by means of an engine exhaust particle sizer. A comprehensive characterization of the particulate carbon was performed by means of optical diagnostics in the combustion chamber. In particular, two-dimensional images of flame evolution were detected and processed by two-color pyrometry technique to assess the in-cylinder soot formation and oxidation processes. For both the investigated spark-ignition and compression ignition engines, the use of biofuels shows a partial increase in the specific fuel consumption and a reduction of the soot particles emission. Nevertheless, a further effort on engine technology should be paid to balance the mass with the size and number of the particles.

Calorific values of rapeseed methyl ester (RME) and soybean methyl ester (SME) biodiesel blends have been determined by using of the high-precision combustion calorimeter. Temperature and pressure dependences of the calorific values in the range (273 to 373) K and (1 to 200) bar have been derived for the RME and SME biodiesel blends B100. Practical equations for calculating of the thermal correction for calorific values taking into account the composition, temperature, and pressure have been proposed. Poder calorífico de misturas de biodiesel dos ésteres metílicos de colza (RME) e soja (SME) foram determinados usando um calorímetro de combustão de alta precisão. A dependência dos valores calóricos com a temperatura e pressão no intervalo (273-373) K e (1 a 200) bar foram derivados para misturas de RME e SME de biodiesel B100. Foram propostas equações práticas para o cálculo da correção da temperatuta para poder calorífico, considerando a composição, temperatura e pressão.

The article presents the results of comparative motor research on FAME biofuels using diesel engine VALMET 320 DMG. Energy (ηe, be) and environmental parameters (CO2, CO, NOx, HC, SM) of the engine were estimated. The obtained data on motor research into new biofuels show that the properties of Camelina sativa biofuels are as good as those observed in standardized rapeseed methyl ester biofuels. In case of using Camelina sativa biofuels blends VME and ZME at different engine loads, exhaust emissions from gas smoke could be reduced up to 10% and 30% accordingly comparing with mineral diesel. When the engine is fueled with tested biofuel blends, carbon monoxide emissions decrease by about 5–6%, and the factor for effective performance increases by approximately 4%. In all range of engine loads, an increase in nitrogen oxide emissions reaching 2–3% was observed. In all cases of using biofuel blends, carbon dioxide emissions keep close to the application of mineral diesel. Article in Lithuanian. Daugiakomponenčių Camelina sativa ir rapso metilesterio biodegalų palyginamieji tyrimai Santrauka.Straipsnyje pateikiami RRME biodegalų palyginamųjų motorinių bandymų, kurie buvo atlikti dyzeliniame variklyje VALMET 320 DMG, rezultatai. Įvertinti variklio energetiniai (ηe, be) ir ekologiniai rodikliai (CO2, CO, NOX, HC, SM). Atliktų naujų biodegalų motoriniai tyrimų rezultatai rodo, kad naujų Camelina sativa biodegalų savybės nenusileidžia standartizuotiems rapso metilesterio biodegalų savybėms. Lyginant su mineraliniu dyzelinu, naudojant Camelina sativa biodegalų mišinius VME ir ZME, skirtingais variklio apkrovos režimais galima sumažinti išmetamųjų dujų dūmingumą atitinkamai iki 10 % ir 30 %. Varikliui dirbant bandomaisiais biodegalų mišiniais, buvo pasiektas 5–6 % anglies monoksido emisijos sumažėjimas ir 4 % naudingo veikimo koeficiento padidėjimas. Visame variklio apkrovos diapazone stebimas 2–3 % azoto oksidų emisijos padidėjimas. Anglies dioksido emisija visais biodegalų naudojimo atvejais išlieka artima mineralinio dyzelino naudojimui. Raktiniai žodžiai:dyzelinis variklis; biodegalai; Camelina sativa; rapso metilesteris

The article presents the results of comparative motor research on FAME biofuels using diesel engine VALMET 320 DMG. Energy (ηe, be) and environmental parameters (CO2, CO, NOx, HC, SM) of the engine were estimated. The obtained data on motor research into new biofuels show that the properties of Camelina sativa biofuels are as good as those observed in standardized rapeseed methyl ester biofuels. In case of using Camelina sativa biofuels blends VME and ZME at different engine loads, exhaust emissions from gas smoke could be reduced up to 10% and 30% accordingly comparing with mineral diesel. When the engine is fueled with tested biofuel blends, carbon monoxide emissions decrease by about 5–6%, and the factor for effective performance increases by approximately 4%. In all range of engine loads, an increase in nitrogen oxide emissions reaching 2–3% was observed. In all cases of using biofuel blends, carbon dioxide emissions keep close to the application of mineral diesel.

På SSAB i Borlänge har man upptäckt att avgaser från färgen förorenar ugnarna vid härdning. Avgaserna består av lösningsmedel och andra flyktiga föreningar som sedan förkolnas och faller ner på lackerade plåtband. För att komma runt det här problemet har SSAB tillsammans med Akzo Nobel Industrial Finishes AB, i Gamleby, tillverkat en färg som inte ska ge ifrån sig något lösningsmedel och på så sätt minska bildandet av föroreningar i ugnarna. Färgen heter NOVA GreenCoat och innehåller rapsmetylester, RME, som är ett reaktivt lösningsmedel och ska binda till bindemedlet i färgen och på så sätt hindras från att avgå vid härdning. Syftet har varit att undersöka om en viss metod fungerar bra för att samla upp avgaser vid härdning. Avgaserna analyserades med GC-MS och härdningen studerades med FTIR. Arbetet har utförts både i Borlänge och i Gamleby. Metoden för uppsamling av avgaserna visade sig fungera, dock inte särskilt effektivt. Den skulle därför behöva optimeras. Härdningen kunde till viss del följas med hjälp av FTIR. Förändring i IR-spektrumet syntes för hydroxyltoppen vid cirka 3500 cm-1. En skillnad kunde ses för en topp vid 2858 cm-1 som uppkom i det ohärdade materialet innehållande RME, men den försvann under härdning. Toppen ökade med ökad mängd RME och syntes inte alls för de prover som inte innehöll RME. Samtliga gjorda analyser indikerade att RME avgick vid härdning. Vid analys med GC-MS kunde de föreningar som avgick från RME identifieras som: metyl-14-metyl pentadekanoat och/eller metyl hexadekanoat, olika former av metyl oktadekanoat samt olika former av metyl eikosanoat. Andra föreningar från klarlacken som avgick var lösningsmedel x och y samt i två av proverna hexametoximetylmelamin, HMMM. Problems with exhaust gases from paint that contaminates the ovens have been discovered at SSAB in Borlänge. The exhaust gases contain solvents and other volatiles that vaporize from the paint and later on carbonize and fall down on the next coming sheets. SSAB and Akzo Nobel Industrial Finishes AB have developed a paint that is not supposed to vaporize any solvents and therefore reduce the contaminations of the ovens. The paint is called NOVA GreenCoat and contains rapeseed methyl ester, RME. RME is a reactive solvent that is supposed to react with the binder in the paint and therefore be prevented from leaving during thermal cure. The purpose was to investigate whether a specific method worked well, for collecting the exhaust gases during thermal cure, or not. The collected exhaust gases were analyzed by using GC-MS and the cure was studied with FTIR. The work was executed both in Borlänge and Gamleby. The method for collecting the exhaust gases worked, unfortunately it wasn’t particularly effective. It therefore needs to be optimized. The cure could partially be studied by using FTIR. Changes in the IR-spectrum could be followed by looking at the hydroxyl peak at approximately 3500 cm-1. A certain difference was observed for a peak at 2858 cm-1 that appeared in the uncured material containing RME. The peak disappeared during cure. It increased with increased amount of RME and could not be observed at all for the samples that did not contain RME. All the analyzed samples indicated that RME vaporize during cure. When analyzed with GC-MS the volatiles that vaporize from RME were identified as: hexadecanoic acid methyl ester and/or penta decanoic acid methyl-14-methyl ester, different forms of octadecanoic acid methyl ester and different forms of eicosanoic acid methyl ester. Other volatiles that vaporize from NOVA GreenCoat were solvent x and solvent y and for two of the samples hexa metoxy methyl melamine, HMMM, was also found.

På SSAB i Borlänge har man upptäckt att avgaser från färgen förorenar ugnarna vid härdning. Avgaserna består av lösningsmedel och andra flyktiga föreningar som sedan förkolnas och faller ner på lackerade plåtband. För att komma runt det här problemet har SSAB tillsammans med Akzo Nobel Industrial Finishes AB, i Gamleby, tillverkat en färg som inte ska ge ifrån sig något lösningsmedel och på så sätt minska bildandet av föroreningar i ugnarna. Färgen heter NOVA GreenCoat och innehåller rapsmetylester, RME, som är ett reaktivt lösningsmedel och ska binda till bindemedlet i färgen och på så sätt hindras från att avgå vid härdning. Syftet har varit att undersöka om en viss metod fungerar bra för att samla upp avgaser vid härdning. Avgaserna analyserades med GC-MS och härdningen studerades med FTIR. Arbetet har utförts både i Borlänge och i Gamleby. Metoden för uppsamling av avgaserna visade sig fungera, dock inte särskilt effektivt. Den skulle därför behöva optimeras. Härdningen kunde till viss del följas med hjälp av FTIR. Förändring i IR-spektrumet syntes för hydroxyltoppen vid cirka 3500 cm-1. En skillnad kunde ses för en topp vid 2858 cm-1 som uppkom i det ohärdade materialet innehållande RME, men den försvann under härdning. Toppen ökade med ökad mängd RME och syntes inte alls för de prover som inte innehöll RME. Samtliga gjorda analyser indikerade att RME avgick vid härdning. Vid analys med GC-MS kunde de föreningar som avgick från RME identifieras som: metyl-14-metyl pentadekanoat och/eller metyl hexadekanoat, olika former av metyl oktadekanoat samt olika former av metyl eikosanoat. Andra föreningar från klarlacken som avgick var lösningsmedel x och y samt i två av proverna hexametoximetylmelamin, HMMM. Problems with exhaust gases from paint that contaminates the ovens have been discovered at SSAB in Borlänge. The exhaust gases contain solvents and other volatiles that vaporize from the paint and later on carbonize and fall down on the next coming sheets. SSAB and Akzo Nobel Industrial Finishes AB have developed a paint that is not supposed to vaporize any solvents and therefore reduce the contaminations of the ovens. The paint is called NOVA GreenCoat and contains rapeseed methyl ester, RME. RME is a reactive solvent that is supposed to react with the binder in the paint and therefore be prevented from leaving during thermal cure. The purpose was to investigate whether a specific method worked well, for collecting the exhaust gases during thermal cure, or not. The collected exhaust gases were analyzed by using GC-MS and the cure was studied with FTIR. The work was executed both in Borlänge and Gamleby. The method for collecting the exhaust gases worked, unfortunately it wasn’t particularly effective. It therefore needs to be optimized. The cure could partially be studied by using FTIR. Changes in the IR-spectrum could be followed by looking at the hydroxyl peak at approximately 3500 cm-1. A certain difference was observed for a peak at 2858 cm-1 that appeared in the uncured material containing RME. The peak disappeared during cure. It increased with increased amount of RME and could not be observed at all for the samples that did not contain RME. All the analyzed samples indicated that RME vaporize during cure. When analyzed with GC-MS the volatiles that vaporize from RME were identified as: hexadecanoic acid methyl ester and/or penta decanoic acid methyl-14-methyl ester, different forms of octadecanoic acid methyl ester and different forms of eicosanoic acid methyl ester. Other volatiles that vaporize from NOVA GreenCoat were solvent x and solvent y and for two of the samples hexa metoxy methyl melamine, HMMM, was also found.

Worldwide production of biodiesel is growing at a rapid pace. Arguably, the European Union (EU) is the global leader in biodiesel production, but the United States has recently expanded its production. The growth of the biodiesel industry in both regions has been fueled by a series of government-provided financial incentives. However, the timing of the growth and incentive provisions, the nature of the main incentives, and the market conditions differ across regions. This article provides a comparative analysis of the EU and U.S. biodiesel industries, highlighting market and policy aspects that are leading to a rapid but distinct growth.

End of Project Report The storage stabilities of fuel grade camelina, sunflower and rapeseed methyl esters were evaluated in airtight and open containers. Commercial amounts (200 litres) of the methyl esters were stored in airtight drums and sampled regularly, and the effects of air exposure were evaluated from sixteen days laboratory-scale accelerated storage tests at 65oC. None of the methyl esters in airtight drums deteriorated during eighteen months of storage; composition, viscosities and free fatty acid levels remained unchanged. The accelerated storage test in open containers, however, indicated that exposure to air can cause rapid oxidation of each of the three methyl esters. However, oxidation can be delayed by the presence of tocopherols (natural antioxidants) in the methyl ester, and it can be further delayed by the presence of an unidentified carotenoid. The exceptional stability of rapeseed methyl ester seems to be due to a combination of relatively high levels of Μ-tocopherol and the unidentified carotenoid. The rates of oxidation (i.e. rate of increase of viscosity etc.) of sunflower and camelina methyl esters were about the same, but rapeseed methyl ester oxidised slower. The observed relative rates of oxidation could be predicted from the levels of reacting double bonds calculated from the oxidation data, but not from iodine numbers. European Union Framework Programme

Biodiesel is one of the promising alternative fuels of the future that is environmentally friendly. Biodiesel can be produced from rapeseed, soybeans, coconut oil, jatropha and many others. It is important to analyze the effect of comparison between diesel fuel and biodiesel to study the effect of combustion and emissions of these fuels. In this research, the simulation of combustion and emission is done with Diesel RK. Three fuels are studied; diesel fuel, rapeseed methyl ester (RME) and soybean methyl ester (SME). The engine was simulated at 2000 rpm and the injection pressures were 944, 1191, 1297, 1420 and 1729 bar respectively. The results show that the specific fuel consumption (SFC), particulate matter (PM), and CO2 emissions of diesel fuel are relatively the same for different injection pressures. However, the SFC, PM and CO2 emissions for rapeseed methyl ester and soybean methyl ester decrease with increasing injection pressure. These results can prove that higher injection pressures in diesel engines can improve combustion and reduce emissions of biodiesel fuel as compared to diesel fuel.