Evaluation of soybean/canola/palm biodiesel mixture as an alternative diesel fuel

Abstract

This study examines fuel properties and performance characteristics of diesel engine fueled with three different biodieselmixtures (soybean, canola and palm oils) and their blends with diesel fuel according to ASTM and EN standards. Viscosity andpour point of soybean-canola-palm (S-C-P) biodiesel blends were found out of standard ranges. Blend with soybean(25%) - canola (25%) - palm (25%) - diesel (25%) reached acceptable fuel properties (kinematic viscosity 4.3 mm2/s, cetanenumber 53, pour point -4°C). It performed 3% power loss with 8% higher specific fuel consumption. While CO and CO2emissions were reduced, NOx emissions were increased with increasing biodiesel contents in blends. As a result, diesel usage wasminimized to 25% by blending it with S-C-P biodiesels together.