5.

0 Biodiesel

Name : Nurul Afifah Binti Mohd Yusoff

Student ID : 2013275464
Class : EH110 5B
Lecturer’s Name : Miss NorKamruzita Binti Saadon
5.2 Fuel Properties and Biodiesel
Standards
 INTRODUCTION

• Palm olein from vegetable oil has gained

attention as a new renewable energy source to
substitute fossil diesel.
• This work examines the technical potential of
biodiesel produced from palm olein as gas
turbine fule in Malaysia.
• The studies which cover an investigation into the
physical and chemical properties of blended
palm olein/diesel oils.
Physical Properties of Palm Olein
• The physical characteristics of blended palm Olein/diesel fuels are
different from crude palm oil or diesel fuel.
• Viscosity is a critical property of any liquid fuel particularly for gas
turbine combustion.
• High viscosity of the fuel affects the fuel atomisation behaviour of
the burner and could results in poor ignition characteristics,
smokes and lower combustion efficiency or increase the formation
of carbon.
 What is Biodiesel ?
• Fuel composed of mono-alkyl esters of long chain
fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animals
fats
• Biodiesel is made through a chemical process
called trans-esterification, whereby the glycerin is
separated from the fat or vegetable oil.
 Biodiesel Advantage

Reduction of
Greenhouse gas Non-toxicity Biodegradability
emission

Can be produced
Safer to handle virtually from any
type of oil for fat
5.3 Quality Control Of Palm
Diesel
 QUALITY CONTROL
• Biodiesel users should always ensure that the biodiesel
used in their fuel blends meets the latest ASTM D6751
specification.
• ASTM D6751 is based on the physical and chemical
properties needed for safe and satisfactory diesel engine
operation.
• This specification ensures the quality of biodiesel.
• An added level of quality assurance is available from
producers who are BQ-9000 accredited.
• The BQ-9000 program ensures that producers are meeting
ASTM D6751 and following industry standard quality
protocols including storage, sampling, testing, blending,
shipping, distribution, and fuel management practices.
 Storing Biodiesel Fuels
• Biodiesel is best stored in tanks that do not
have any residual water, sediments or other
contaminants. Heat and sunlight can
accelerate oxidation; therefore storage in clear
totes is not advisable.
• Biodiesel made from feedstock high in
saturated fats, i.e. Palm Oil or Tallow, tends to
oxidize slower, and consequently has higher
storage stability.
• Exposure to oxygen reduces the storage life of
biodiesel fuels.
 Storing Biodiesel Fuels

• When storing biodiesel for longer periods, the

use of nitrogen blankets and anti-oxidants
and/or stability additives is suggested.
• Since the acid level and viscosity can increase
as biodiesel ages in storage, users can also
perform acid number and viscosity tests
before using biodiesel fuels that have been
stored for lengthy periods.
 Cold Weather Performance

The potential for cold flow problems in biodiesel

fuels can be moderated by dilution via blending with

conventional diesel, which also makes the use of cold

flow additives practical.

Thus, a B5 fuel will generally have very few cold flow

issues beyond that normally experienced with

conventional diesel fuel.

 Cold Weather Performance

 When using B20 in below freezing temperatures, cold flow performance

can be managed by i) using cold-flow additives

ii) ensuring that the conventional diesel used in the blend is a ‘winter

diesel’ that has a sufficiently low cloud point, i.e. some winter diesel

blends achieve very low cloud points by including No. 1 diesel.

 However, at biodiesel levels above 20%, managing cold flow performance

can be a more significant challenge and may require engine block or fuel

filter heaters.
5.4 Methods for analysis of blends
of palm methyl ester and
petroleum diesel
 INTRODUCTION
• The quality of biodiesel, diesel fuel and its blends must comply
with certain parameters as stipulated in the standard
specifications before and after blending for quality assurance.

• With the setting up setting up of a quality control laboratory for

fuel analyses in MPOB, it is able to perform various analytical
testing for biodiesel, diesel fuel and its blends in accordance with
international standard methods such as the ASTM,EN and ISO.
DETERMINATION OF SULPHATED ASH CONTENT
OF BIODIESEL AND DIESEL FUEL
• Ash-forming materials especially the unremoved catalyst
used in biodiesel production can cause engine deposits and
contribute to wear and tear at the fuel injector, fuel pump,
piston and ring.

• Thus, there is a need to limit the sulphated ash content in

the biodiesel sample.

• Currently, a maximum of 0.02 mass % is stipulated in the

biodiesel specification.

• In this test, the sample is ignited and burned until only ash
and carbon remain.
DETERMINATION OF SULPHATED ASH CONTENT
OF BIODIESEL AND DIESEL FUEL
• After cooling, the residue is
treated with sulphuric acid
and heated at 775 oC in a
furnace until oxidation of
carbon is completed.
• The ash is then cooled,
treated with sulphuric acid
and heated to constant
weight at 775 oC
• The weight of the ash that
remained represents the
suplhated ash content.
 DETERMINATION OF TOTAL CONTAMINATION
OF BIODIESEL
• This test is to determine the content
of undissolved substances in the fuel.
• The maximum limit of total
contamination for biodiesel is 24 mg
kg -1 .
• In this test, the sample is filtered at
40 oC through a membrane filter
having a pore size of 0.8 µm at a
pressure of 2-5 kPa, and the residue
retained on the filter is washed with
n-heptane.
• The increase in the weight of the
filter represents the total
contamination in a biodiesel sample.
 DETERMINATION OF ELECTRICAL
CONDUCTIVITY OF DIESEL FUEL
• This test is to mainly verify the ability of a fuel to
dissipate charge that has been generated during
operation such as pumping and filtration.
• If the conductivity is sufficiently high, charges
dissipate fast enough to prevent accumulation
and this will reduce the hazard in storing the fuel
in a fuel tank.
• The minimum limit of electrical conductivity of a
diesel fuel specified in the Malaysian Standard
Specification for Diesel Fuel is 50 pS/m.
 DETERMINATION OF ELECTRICAL
CONDUCTIVITY OF DIESEL FUEL
• In this test, the liquid
sample is placed in a
measuring vessel to a
level sufficient to cover
the electrodes of the
conductivity meter.
• A voltage is applied across
the electrodes and the
resulting current is
expressed as the
electrical conductivity
value.
 REFERENCES
• http://www.slideshare.net/ieeepkhi/combustion-studies-
by-dr-ahmed-presentation?qid=d36cbf92-4dcc-400a-aa51-
789bd4603e48&v=qf1&b=&from_search=4

• http://www.slideshare.net/casagou/joamina-comparative-
study-cics-2012?qid=73189a84-efa6-4422-99a8-
34c512bbc89a&v=qf1&b=&from_search=1

• http://palmoilis.mpob.gov.my/publications/TOT/TS-112-
114.pdf

• http://www.crimsonrenewable.com/usage.php