Warabut Rapipan. Design of a vegetable oil fuel warming system for use in diesel engine . Master's Degree(Appropriate Technology for Resources and Environmental Development). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2004.
Design of a vegetable oil fuel warming system for use in diesel engine
Abstract:
The objective of this study is to design a vegetable oil warming system using virgin coconut
oil and crude palm oil as diesel engine fuel. The results obtained from the physical properties testing
and injection measurements indicated that the vegetable oil had to be heated up to at least 60°c, high
enough to give it a low enough viscosity for use in a diesel engine. Low viscosity is also essential to
ensure smooth flow of fuel in the fuel system.
The heat exchanger was implemented and installed in the test car. In order for the vegetable
oil warming system to start working properly, it is necessary to warm the engine up with diesel fuel for
approximate 15-20 minutes. This is to allow the hot water from the cooling system of the diesel engine
to heat up enough to transfer heat to the warming system. The results obtained from engine
performance and exhaust emission measurement showed that power generated by the engine on virgin
coconut oil and crude palm oil were 10.31% and 2.35% lower than that of the diesel fuel, respectively.
And the specific fuel consumption of virgin coconut oil and crude palm oil were 25.57% and 16.51%
higher than that of the diesel fuel, respectively.
Based on all the results of the experiments, it is concluded that it is possible to integrate the
vegetable oil warming system in the diesel engine of a small pickup truck. The system is practical,
simple, easy to use and economical. It works well along with the diesel fuel system. The system can run
only with diesel fuel or switch back and forth between diesel fuel and vegetable oil with separate fuel
tanks. The system is suitable for farmers who are looking for an alternative to diesel fuel, and are
willing to bear the drawbacks such as reduced brake power, higher fuel consumption, hasty engine and
injection pump deterioration, and excessive pollutants from the engine.