Transcript Bio-diesel and the Engine

Bio-diesel and the Engine
North Seattle Community College
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Courtney Hayes
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Allison House
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Sara Lussy
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Greg Lyman
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Michael Rafer
The Claim
“Modern automotive engines cannot handle biodiesel
because biodiesel does not put out as much heat as
petroleum-based diesel.”
The Response
“Although biodiesel may not produce as much heat as
petroleum based diesel (petrodiesel), it can still be
used as an alternative fuel source in modern
automotive engines.”
First things first…
How diesel engines work
Downstroke
Exhaust pushed out
Combustion
chamber full of air
Principle:
Gas compresses::
temperature rises
Upstroke
Upstroke
Air compressed/
Fuel injected into
chamber
Downstroke
Mixture combusts
And now the fuels…
Petroleum-based Diesel
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Also called Petrodiesel
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Important components of the fuel
– Heat of Combustion
– Cetane #
– Viscosity
– Flash point
– Gelling point
– Horse power
– Current price
And…
Biodiesel
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Also called the methyl esters
of veggie oils or animal fats
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Important components
– Heat of Combustion
– Cetane #
– Viscosity
– Flash point
– Gelling point
– Horse power
– Current price
To sum them up…
Petrodiesel vs. Biodiesel
Measurable
Qualities/Properties
100% Diesel Fuel
100% Biodiesel
Heat of Combustion
(BTU/gal)
140,000 BTU/gal
129,000 BTU/gal
Cetane Number
48
55
Viscosity
2.8
5.7
Flashpoint
100 to 160º F
260 to 300º F
Gelling Temperature
-20º F
Generally 32 º F
Horsepower
68
62
Price
$2.55 per gal
$3.67 per gal
Wrapping up…
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Can biodiesel be used as an alternative source of fuel for
modern diesel engines?
– YES.
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Questions…?