Performance of Biodiesel Fuel in cold weather condition Mechanical Engineering Graduation Thesis 25.416/25.475 Presented by: Zeloon Lye 6805215 1
Introduction of biodiesel fuel Biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from vegetable, animal fat and waste vegetable oils. It contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. Biodiesel Fuel 2
Introduction of biodiesel fuel transesterification whereby the glycerin is separated from the animal fat or vegetable oil, yielding methyl ester (Biodiesel fuel) Smaller molecule size Vegetable Oil Biodiesel fuel 3
Benefit of biodiesel fuel Energy: Energy content comparable to diesel fuel It can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines with little or no modifications. Society: Produced from a renewable resource, reducing dependency from fossil fuel 4
Benefit of biodiesel fuel Economy: price is comparable to diesel fuel, and it is produced locally Environment: green house gas neutral, produce minimum amount of SOx and produce lower particulate matter but slightly higher NOx 5
Terminology Blending Proportion B20: 20 percent of biodiesel fuel blend with 80 percent of diesel fuel, widely used in Europe B5: 5 percent of biodiesel fuel blend with 95 percent of diesel fuel WVO: waste vegetable oil Diesel #1: standard diesel fuel that used during winter 6
Challenge of Biodiesel Fuel Viscosity is higher than diesel More difficult to flow at lower temperature Not readily available in Canada yet Engine manufacturer only support B5 blend in USA/ Canada and B20/B30 blend in Europe 7
Scope Making of biodiesel fuel from WVO Steps of making Glycerin level Property of biodiesel fuel Viscosity Heat Value Engine performance test Fuel consumption, exhaust temperature Maintenance UBC biodiesel project http://www.eya.ca/biodiesel/ 8
Purpose Understand the impact of cold weather condition to the biodiesel fuel Suggest improvement in its use in cold weather Look at the long term future of biodiesel fuel Montreal Biobus Project 9
Making of Biodiesel Fuel from WVO Steps in making, Glycerine level 10
Making of Biodiesel Waste Vegetable Oil #1 Filter Methanol + Lye #2 Heat (35 C) Sodium Methoxide Mixed oil (methyl esters and glycerine) Stirring #3 Settling and filtering #4 Glycerine Methyl esters Washing #5 Drying #6 Biodiesel Fuel B100 11
Steps in making Waste Vegetable Oil Methanol with Lye react stirring 12
Steps in making Mixed Oil Filtration Methyl Esters is separated from glycerine 13
Steps in making Water washing Drying 1.75L yield of Biodiesel fuel from 2L of waste vegetable oil Ready Biodiesel 14
Glycerine level Increase the viscosity in biodiesel fuel and lower yield of biodiesel fuel Viscosity of glycerine is 5000(SSU) compared to 240(SSU) for Biodiesel B100 at 20 C *SSU - saybolt second universal Biodiesel Glycerine 15
Glycerine level A) Providing heat when waste vegetable oil is mixed with sodium methoxide produces a low yield of biodiesel. # Volume of Voume of Ratio of WVO Heating WVO Final volume Yield percentage WVO (L) methanol (ml) to methanol and sodium of biodiesel of biodiesel methanol fuel (L) fuel (%) 1 1 50 0.05 no 0.6 60 2 0.5 100 0.2 no 0.37 74 3 1 250 0.25 no 0.72 72 4 1 250 0.25 yes,35 degree celcius 0.375 37.5 5 2 500 0.25 no 1.75 87.5 6 2 500 0.25 no 1.75 87.5 16
Glycerine Level B) The ratio of methanol and waste vegetable oil is found to be 25 percent to give the highest yield of biodiesel fuel. # Volume of Voume of Ratio of WVO Final volume Yield percentage WVO (L) methanol (ml) to methanol of biodiesel of biodiesel fuel (L) fuel (%) 1 1 50 0.05 0.6 60 2 0.5 100 0.2 0.37 74 5 2 500 0.25 1.75 87.5 6 2 500 0.25 1.75 87.5 17
Glycerine C) Multi step filtration needed in order to remove the glycerine in biodiesel fuel content, give highest yield of biodiesel fuel # Volume of Voume of Ratio of WVO Cycle of Final volume Yield percentage WVO (L) methanol (ml) to methanol filtering of biodiesel of biodiesel oil (L) fuel (%) 1 1 50 0.05 1 0.6 60 2 0.5 100 0.2 2 0.37 74 3 1 250 0.25 2 0.72 72 4 1 250 0.25 2 0.35 35 5 2 500 0.25 3 1.75 87.5 6 2 500 0.25 3 1.75 87.5 18
Properties of Biodiesel Fuel Viscosity, Heat value 19
Fact Sheet Important property Higher viscosity lower density Diesel #1 Density Kg/L (From reference) 0.846 kinematic viscosity cst (From test data) 1.906 Heat Value BTU/gal (From reference) 140,000 Lower heat combustion Biodiesel B20 0.85 2.43 138,000 Biodiesel B100 0.88 6.61 130,000 At 20 degree Celsius 20
Viscosity Impact atomization of the fuel being injected into the engine combustion chamber Large drop of fuel caused by high viscosity affect to combustion quality Burn not clean Build up in the engine around valve, injector tips and on piston sidewalls and ring Fuel does not flow properly through filter and engine injection system 21
Viscosity Causes: Glycerine particles Food particle Fuel Diesel #1 Kinematics Viscosity cst 1.906 Blend with diesel, viscosity is closer to diesel #1 After Blending Biodiesel B5 Biodiesel B20 Biodiesel B100 2.038 2.431 6.609 22
Viscosity versus Temperature B100 increase faster than biodiesel blend and diesel B5/B20 behave similar to Diesel #1 Viscosity versus Temperature (from test data) kinematic viscosity (cts) 7.0 6.0 5.0 4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 0 20 40 60 80 B100 B20 B5 Diesel #1 water temperature (degree celcius) 23
Viscosity SSU Limit of easy pump ability Diesel NO.1 Biodiesel B100-18 C 17 C 26.6 C 65.5 C Temperature F 24
Heating Block Heat block can be provided to heat up the fuel to operating temperature E.g. Heat up the fuel tank to 17 C when ambient temperature is -18 C to ensure flowing of biodiesel fuel B100 25
Engine Performance Test Exhaust temperature, Fuel consumption, maintenance 26
Introduction Further determine the performance of biodiesel fuel in a real engine running situation. B5, B20 and diesel Fuel consumption, exhaust temperature Testing machine 27
Test Description Diesel Engine, 28hp, 10 years used for clearing light snow during winter runs in idle state for at least two hours daily Testing machine 28
A. Fuel Consumption Volume of the fuel used in per minute engine running (L/min) Fuel consumption versus ambient temperature Fuel Consumption, L/min 0.05 0.045 0.04 0.035 0.03 0.025 0.02 0.015 0.01 0.005 0 Biodiesel B5 Diesel Biodiesel B20-30 -20-10 0 10 Ambient Temperature, C 29
A. Fuel Consumption Not causing increase of fuel consumption low fuel consumption around -20 C to -5 C Behave the same as diesel Fuel tank 30
B. Exhaust pipe temperature Temperature of gases from exhaust pipe Exhaust temperature versus ambient temperature Exhaust Temperature (C) 160 155 150 145 140 135 130 125 120 115 110 Biodiesel B5 Diesel Biodiesel B20-30 -20-10 0 10 Ambient Temperature (C) 31
B. Exhaust pipe temperature high exhaust temperature at lower ambient temperature Lower exhaust temperature with higher blend with constant ambient temperature Exhaust Pipe Diesel Biodiesel B5 Biodiesel B20 Ambient T -13 C -13 C -13 C Exhaust Temperature 139 C 132 C 130 C 32
Maintenance Inside the filter Outside the filter Diesel equipment can run with biodiesel fuel without creating engine problem Filter behaves like normal condition Filter has less water Engine Oil is cleaner No congestion along fuel lines Engine oil 33
Drivers feedback No problem with clearing the snow No problem with starting the machine No problem in running under temperature -20 degree Celsius 34
Comparing with other report Montreal Biobus Report Testing during a whole year 35
Overall recommendation Good Quality of filtering and right recipe Heating Block Concept for using high blend biodiesel fuel B20 is feasible under -20 degree Celsius However, take certain precautions Adequate training for technical worker 36
Acknowledgements Advisors: Dr. Eric Bibeau and Mr. D. Paul Zanetel, M.A.Sc., P.Eng Chemistry Department Dr. Norman R. Hunter, Professor and Head of Chemistry Department Dr. Hultin, Professor of Chemistry Department Physical Plant General service Mr. Ed Rzeszutek, B.A., Manager Mr. Larry Rudniski, assistance manager Mr. Dave Wikdahl, Senior Groundskeeper Mr. Wally Enonchuk, Mechanic, Daily Bread Café & Catering: Mr. Ian Park,Manager Amy Jenkins, Environmental Science final year student 37
Q & A Thanks 38