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Title of dissertation Assessment of Technical Potential of Biodiesel Derived from Calophyllum Inophyllum as Gas Turbine Fuel RONPAKU Fellow Name Ee Sann TAN Position Senior Lecturer ID No. R11513 Department Department of Mechanical Engineering Institution Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten), Malaysia Nationality Malaysia Japanese Advisor Name Kunio YOSHIKAWA Position Professor Institution Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan
The objective of this dissertation is to investigate the combustion properties and performance of biodiesels relative to conventional distillate used in gas turbines. The research aims to assess the technical potential of biodiesel derived from palm oil, waste cooking oil (WCO), and calophyllum inophyllum (CI) and its use in microturbine.
Chapter 1: Introduction The objectives of the research are presented. Previous works are discussed to present the problem of the current biodiesel feedstock and the challenges in the application and implementation of it in saturated market of transportation use. These challenges lead to the utilization of biodiesel derived from non-edible plants and its application in gas turbine. The contribution of the research is also highlighted in this section.
Chapter 2: Comparative studies on biodiesel from various feedstocks for microturbine application The production of biodiesel derived from palm oil, waste cooking oil (WCO) and CI under the alkali-catalyzed transesterification reaction are presented to differentiate between the three feedstock. In addition, the chemical fuel properties are compared in accordance with the international recognized standards used for biodiesel and gas turbine application such as ASTM D6751 and ASTM D2880. It is proven that CI biodiesel has improved chemical properties that affect the performance and emission of biodiesel in the microturbine.
Chapter 3: Atomization test and open diffusion flame test This chapter focuses on the atomization test and diffusion flame test in an experimental test rig. This test is important to understand the combustion behavior of biodiesel through the study of dynamic spray combustion of an air blast atomizer similar to microturbine application. The atomization of the fuel is investigated by comparing droplet size measurement and the spray pattern. Meanwhile, the diffusion flame test conducted in a burner shows the various flame patterns of biodiesel derived from various feedstocks, to enable the investigation of burning characteristics in a combustion chamber. It was found that the higher ratio of biodiesel blend in the sample fuel will result in a larger Sauter Mean Diameter (SMD), longer spray length, but smaller spray width with clearer vortex shape of pattern. The flame observed for CI biodiesel was the shortest among the test fuel, proving its usability in the microturbine combustion chamber which is smaller in size.
Chapter 4: Microturbine performance and emission test The performance and emission test of palm oil, WCO and CI in a 30 kW microturbine are reported here. The combustion efficiency and emission test are measured and evaluated to determine the performance of each individual type of feedstock used. The range of the combustion efficiency in the experiment is between 81% - 89%, with CI biodiesel recording the highest value compared to other test samples, particularly distillate. The NOx concentration increases gradually as the load increases, but CI biodiesel recorded lowest levels NOx compared to the other test fuels. Meanwhile, SO2 concentration decreases with respect to increasing the CI biodiesel volumetric ratio due to its low levels on sulfur contained in the elemental analysis. CI biodiesel also recorded the lowest level of CO concentration, indicating a more complete combustion.
Chapter 5: This chapter emphasizes on the feasibility of using biodiesel derived from CI in a full functioning gas turbine. The prediction on the potential fuel saving and emission reduction of biodiesel will be presented based on production cost analysis and impact analysis. Based on the production cost analysis, the production cost for 50 ktons of palm and CI biodiesel production plant was found to be $0.672/liter and $0.525/liter respectively. The amount of CI biodiesel needed for power sector is estimated to be 498,697 tonnes if 5% of distillate is replaced. This amount is within the country’s production capacity of biodiesel. The potential CO2 emission reduction for 10% of fossil diesel fuel replacement by CI biodiesel is 972 ktons for transport sector and 1,057 ktons for power sector. This show there is more significant emission reduction in the power sector.
Chapter 6: Conclusion This chapter presents the summary and conclusion of the research, as well as recommendations for future works as a next step forward.
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