Characterization of a high-speed compression ignition engine fueled with ethyl and methyl esters of palm oil

Abstract

The fossil energy issues and environmental pollution effects are a perilous plight. Fatty acid esters (FAEs) can solve these problems due to they produce from renewable materials. In Thailand, the palm is an economical plant that is produced throughout the year. The research is to study the fuel properties of FAEs from palm oil and their blends and the performance and pollutants of a compression ignition engine. They were transesterified by the same molar ratio and sodium hydroxide catalyst. The physical properties of palm oil ethyl ester (POEE) and its blends were slightly higher than the mixtures of palm oil methyl ester (POME). However, both esters and their blends reduced the engine performance according to increasing both esters as compared with diesel. Notably, the blends of POEE were trivially lower engine performance than POME mixtures. Both esters and their blends reduced carbon monoxide and particulate matter, but they increased carbon dioxide and nitric oxide by adding esters. Outstandingly, the POEE and its blends could decrease these pollutants, except carbon monoxide, compared to POME blends.

Keywords

• Compression ignition engine
• POEE
• POME
• Performance
• Pollutants