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Alternative Fuels for Transportation
The IC engine has many moving components that are normally subjected to
wear process including piston, piston ring, bearing, crank shaft, and engine
valves. The metal particles upon wear go to the engine lubrication system
and will be in suspended form. Agarwal, Bijwe, and Das (2003) carried out
detailed investigations to assess the wear of engine parts using biodiesel
fuel. They investigated the effect of long-term engine operation with engine
wear for a blend of 20% LOME and diesel for wear analysis and lubricating
oil analysis. During this test, each engine was run for 512 hours at rated
speed and different load conditions.
Fuel dilution is a direct consequence of clearance between piston rings and
cylinder liner. If the wear between piston rings and the cylinder increases,
more will clear and hence higher fuel dilution. Biodiesel helps in protecting
the piston rings from wearing out more effectively. Relatively higher viscosity of biodiesel helps in plugging the clearance between piston rings and
cylinder liner effectively, thus reducing blow-by losses and fuel dilution of
lubricating oil. Biodiesel has thus proved to be more effective in protecting
the moving parts of the engine.
Agarwal (2007) analyzed the concentration of various metal present in the
lubricating oil sample by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) for quantitative and qualitative analysis. They reported that AAS studies on lube oils
had indicated that biodiesel fuel led to lesser wear of engine moving parts
in terms of a lesser amount of metallic debris (such as Fe, Cu, Zn, Mg, Cr,
Pb, and Co) present in lube oil samples. These wear metals originated from
contact between two moving metal parts. It has been reported that wear was
reduced with the use of biodiesel.
3.7 Challenges for Biodiesel
1. Biodiesel-fueled vehicles increase the NO x emissions.
2. Studies to be conducted when biodiesel used with the lower sulfur fuel
will produce any emission benefits in the latest generation of engines.
3. While vehicles that run on B20 and displace some amount of petroleum, they are still dependent on diesel fuel to operate.
4. Biodiesel is significantly more expensive than diesel fuel and hence
government incentives are required to promote it.
5. Because there is less energy in a gallon of biodiesel than in a gallon
of petroleum diesel, the driving range of vehicles operating on biodiesel blends is less.
6. Requirement of warranty on biodiesel fueled vehicles from
manufacturers.
Alternative Fuels for Transportation
The IC engine has many moving components that are normally subjected to
wear process including piston, piston ring, bearing, crank shaft, and engine
valves. The metal particles upon wear go to the engine lubrication system
and will be in suspended form. Agarwal, Bijwe, and Das (2003) carried out
detailed investigations to assess the wear of engine parts using biodiesel
fuel. They investigated the effect of long-term engine operation with engine
wear for a blend of 20% LOME and diesel for wear analysis and lubricating
oil analysis. During this test, each engine was run for 512 hours at rated
speed and different load conditions.
Fuel dilution is a direct consequence of clearance between piston rings and
cylinder liner. If the wear between piston rings and the cylinder increases,
more will clear and hence higher fuel dilution. Biodiesel helps in protecting
the piston rings from wearing out more effectively. Relatively higher viscosity of biodiesel helps in plugging the clearance between piston rings and
cylinder liner effectively, thus reducing blow-by losses and fuel dilution of
lubricating oil. Biodiesel has thus proved to be more effective in protecting
the moving parts of the engine.
Agarwal (2007) analyzed the concentration of various metal present in the
lubricating oil sample by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) for quantitative and qualitative analysis. They reported that AAS studies on lube oils
had indicated that biodiesel fuel led to lesser wear of engine moving parts
in terms of a lesser amount of metallic debris (such as Fe, Cu, Zn, Mg, Cr,
Pb, and Co) present in lube oil samples. These wear metals originated from
contact between two moving metal parts. It has been reported that wear was
reduced with the use of biodiesel.
3.7 Challenges for Biodiesel
1. Biodiesel-fueled vehicles increase the NO x emissions.
2. Studies to be conducted when biodiesel used with the lower sulfur fuel
will produce any emission benefits in the latest generation of engines.
3. While vehicles that run on B20 and displace some amount of petroleum, they are still dependent on diesel fuel to operate.
4. Biodiesel is significantly more expensive than diesel fuel and hence
government incentives are required to promote it.
5. Because there is less energy in a gallon of biodiesel than in a gallon
of petroleum diesel, the driving range of vehicles operating on biodiesel blends is less.
6. Requirement of warranty on biodiesel fueled vehicles from
manufacturers.