Camelina oil as a fuel for diesel transport engines

Aurore Bernardo, Robin Howard-Hildige, Adrian O'Connell, Robert Nichol, Jim Ryan, Bernard Rice, Edward Roche, J. J. Leahy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A light commercial road vehicle fitted with a heated fuel line and tank was run on cold pressed and filtered camelina sativa seed oil and unheated mineral diesel fuel. It was found that the seed oil produced a maximum power at the road wheels of 43.25 kW and returned 12.57 km/l compared to 38.50 kW and 14.03 km/l for the mineral fuel. At an engine speed > 2000 rpm and high loading, both smoke opacity and CO emitted from the exhaust was found to be approximately 50% lower with the seed oil than with the mineral fuel, however, NO was higher for the seed oil by almost 6% at engine speeds > 3500 rpm, but similar < 3500 rpm. The CO2 and O2 emissions were similar and NO2 emitted was negligible for both fuels. The effect of heating at 170 °C on the camelina sativa seed oil was investigated and a significant increase in viscosity was observed which coincided with a reduction in the iodine value of the oil.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)191-197
Number of pages7
JournalIndustrial Crops and Products
Volume17
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2003

Keywords

  • Biofuel
  • Camelina seed oil
  • Emissions
  • Fuel
  • Thermal oxidation
  • Tractive power
  • Transport fuel

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