STUDY ON BIODIESEL PRODUCED FROM INEDIBLE AND WASTE FEEDSTOCK IN A DIESEL ENGINE VEDHARAJ SIVASANKARALINGAM (B.Eng.), INDIA A THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE 2014 DECLARATION I hereby declare that the thesis is my original work and it has been written by me in its entirety. I have duly acknowledged all the sources of information which have been used in the thesis. This thesis has also not been submitted for any degree in any university previously. Vedharaj Sivasankaralingam 9 January 2014 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I wish to supplicate my reverence and obeisance to the living GODS - my parents, for showering all praises on me to accomplish my Ph.D. work. Undeniably, their support and motivation have helped me to perform better in my research and though I travelled in un-trodden path, I managed to achieve much because of their encouragement and affection. Professionally, I wish to thank my main supervisor, Prof. S.K. Chou, who gave his support and encouragement in this research work. As a matter of significance, he inculcated in me the habit to work independently and from his esteemed research career; I got to learn a lot. I would always remain grateful for his moral support and guidance throughout the course of my Ph.D. work. In the same note, I also thank my co-supervisor, Dr. Chua Kian Jon, Ernest, who provided his assistance to complete my Ph.D. work. Significantly, I was also under the auspice of Dr. Yang Wenming, who is an expert in the field of IC engines, biofuels and combustion and therefore, I would like to convey my profound sense of gratitude to him. Being an eminent person in the field of my research, he has offered much technical guidance related to my work and assisted to help shape my research direction. My alliance with him during the time of data analysis and manuscript preparation has helped me. Dr. Yang Wenming opened the gates of knowledge through which I managed to climb the ladder of success. Throughout my life, I would remain obliged to him for his help on various aspects of my research work. Finally, I also wish to thank the other members of my group Dr. Lee Poh Seng, Dr. An Hui, Mr. Balaji Mohan, Mr. Tan Tiong Thiam, Mr. Amin Maghbouli and Mr. Mohammad Fahd Ebna Alam for their cooperation and support in realizing my work. As a part of my Ph.D. work, I had an opportunity to carry out some experiments in India under the guidance of Prof. V.Ganesan, Professor- Emeritus, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras and Dr. C.G. Saravanan, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Annamalai University. At the time, when I sought their help regarding my research work, they were extremely generous and magnanimous to extend their helping hand. Based on their recommendations and technical help on the lines of my research work, I was able to develop my research plans. In addition to being Acknowledgements ii supportive, they were amicable and inspired me to rationally think through the relevant areas of my experimental works carried out during my tenure in India. My Ph.D. work, devoid of their mentoring and guidance could not have progressed well and they literally molded me as an ambitious research scholar. No words could appropriately describe their help and support and I wish to submit my heartfelt thanks and respect to them. In addition, I also feel grateful to my friends and other well-wishers, who steered me in the correct path and extended their support. Finally, I would like to express by immense gratitude and thanks to my friend and colleague, Dr. Vallinayagam Raman, who ably supported me in all aspects of my research endeavors. Much to my support and growth, he instigated and motivated me right from the beginning to the end so as to accomplish this research work successfully. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................... 1 1.1. Renewable sources of energy for power production ...................... 1 1.2. Liquid biofuels and its application in power generation ................ 2 1.2.1. Vegetable oil as source of fuel for diesel engine .............................. 6 1.2.2. Biodiesel and its development .......................................................... 8 1.3. Motivation and Outline of the thesis ............................................ 10 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................... 15 2.1. Inedible sources for biodiesel production .................................... 15 2.2. Properties of biodiesel and vegetable oils .................................... 17 2.3. Engine characteristics for inedible oil and its derivatives ........... 19 2.4. Engine design modification strategies ......................................... 27 2.4.1. Thermal barrier coating of engine components .............................. 29 2.4.1.1. Effect of coating on biodiesel combustion and emission ......... 31 2.4.1.2. Summary and future recommendations .................................... 34 2.4.2. Variation of compression ratio ....................................................... 36 2.4.2.1. Effect of compression ratio on biodiesel combustion and emission ................................................................................................. 37 2.4.2.2. Summary and future recommendations .................................... 41 2.4.3. Modification of combustion bowl geometry .................................. 42 2.4.3.1. Effect of combustion chamber geometry on biodiesel combustion and emission ...................................................................... 43 2.4.3.2. Summary and future recommendations .................................... 46 2.5. Fuel modification strategies ......................................................... 46 2.6. Conclusions .................................................................................. 49 3. MATERIALS AND EXPERIMENTAL METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................... 50 3.1. Kapok biodiesel ............................................................................ 50 3.1.1. History of kapok seeds.................................................................... 50 3.1.2. Extraction of oil from kapok seeds ................................................. 51 Table of contents iv 3.1.3. Trans-esterification of kapok oil ..................................................... 52 3.1.4. Composition of KME ..................................................................... 53 3.2. Cashew nut shell liquid biodiesel ................................................. 55 3.2.1. Cashew tree and cashew nut production ......................................... 55 3.2.2. Prospects of CNSL as an alternate fuel – An overview .................. 56 3.2.3. Cost comparison of CNSL with various vegetable oils .................. 57 3.2.4. Extraction of CNSL from cashew shell .......................................... 58 3.2.5. Synthesis of CNSL biodiesel .......................................................... 59 3.2.6. Composition of CNSLME .............................................................. 60 3.3. Diesel engine and experimentation .............................................. 60 3.3.1. Eddy current dynamometer and power measurement .................... 62 3.3.2. Engine measurements ..................................................................... 63 4. OPERATION OF KAPOK BIODIESEL IN A DIESEL ENGINE ........................................................................................ 66 4.1. Experimental investigation of kapok (Ceiba pentandra) oil biodiesel as an alternate fuel for diesel engine ................................... 66 4.1.1. Background ..................................................................................... 66 4.1.2. Methodology ................................................................................... 66 4.1.3. Results and discussion .................................................................... 68 4.1.3.1. Brake specific fuel consumption............................................... 68 4.1.3.2. Brake thermal efficiency .......................................................... 69 4.1.3.3. Heat release rate and cumulative heat release rate ................. 70 4.1.3.4. CO (carbon monoxide) emission .............................................. 71 4.1.3.5. NO X (nitrogen oxide) emission ................................................. 72 4.1.3.6. Smoke emission ........................................................................ 73 4.1.3.7. Exhaust gas temperature .......................................................... 74 4.1.4. Conclusions..................................................................................... 75 4.2. Effect of adding 1,4-Dioxane with kapok biodiesel on the characteristics of a diesel engine ......................................................... 76 4.2.1. Background ..................................................................................... 76 4.2.2. Methodology ................................................................................... 76 4.2.3. Results and Discussion ................................................................... 77 Table of contents v 4.2.4. Conclusions..................................................................................... 85 4.3. Reduction of harmful emissions from diesel engine fueled by kapok methyl ester by combined coating