BY

DAVI D GUTI ERREZ

CHEMI STRY TEACHER
AT
MI SSI ON HI GH SCHOOL
MI SSI ON CI SD
BASED I N THE RESEARCH PROJ ECT OF DR.
TI MOTHY J ACOBS
ADVANCED ENGI NE RESEARCH LABORATORY
MECHANI CAL ENGI NEERI NG
Biodiesel Combustion and its
Influences in NOx Emissions
Biodiesel Combustion
Biodiesel fuel has gained public appeal for its
promise to contribute toward a sustainable energy
system and reduce the emission of carbon into the
atmosphere. A potential challenge for biodiesel fuel,
particularly in the transportation sector, is called
biodiesel NOx penalty. NOx or nitric oxides, are
harmful, toxic, combustion generated pollution that
lead to troposphere ozone, smog, and acid rain.
Several researchers have observed increases in NOx
with the use of biodiesel fuel, compared to petroleum
diesel.
Biodiesel Combustion
Dr. Timothy Jacobs Research Project
The objective of this research project is to evaluate the
physical mechanisms that cause differences in NOx
emissions with biodiesel (relative to petroleum diesel fuel)
in diesel engines including two specific objectives
1. Identify the root causes of differences in NOx and other
emissions from biodiesel fueled engines and petroleum
diesel fueled engines.
2. Determine how energy resources in Texas can be used to
produce qualifying fuels.
The research is conducted both experimentally and
analytically using a 4.5L medium-duty diesel engine as the
test apparatus.
Biodiesel combustion
OBJECTIVES: The Learners Will
Apply in classroom what Mechanical and Chemical
Engineers do
Distinguish between renewable and nonrenewable fuels
How substitution of biodiesel fuel for petroleum biodiesel
benefits the environment
The major differences between gasoline and diesel engines
How an engine makes power
The three way catalyst exhaust carbon monoxide, unburned
hydrocarbons , and nitric oxides
How determine density, evaporation point and other physical
properties of biodiesel
Biodiesel Combustion
The definition of a renewable fuel
How biodiesel fuel is made from new and used
vegetable oil
The chemical analyses necessary to determine the
biodiesel efficiency and quality
How to assess the finished products from the
biodiesel reaction
How to evaluate the efficiency of biodiesel
How to evaluate the impact in local and US economy
Biodiesel combustion
A conventional reciprocating
internal combustion engine is
composed of cylinders, pistons,
crankshafts, camshafts, valves,
and other necessary mechanical
linkages.
The stroke of the engine
refers to the pistons up and
down motion within the
cylinder.
A four-stroke engine indicates
the pistons motion for one
complete mechanical cycle.
Biodiesel Combustion
GASOLINE ENGINE and PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF
GASES
When the piston in cylinder is down the volume of air-
gas mixture is large
When the piston in cylinder is raised the air-gas mixture
is compressed, the spark plug releases a spark the
gasoline mixture explodes and forces the piston down
first position and repeats turning the drive shaft and the
car moves.
The size of the cylinder is called displacement. If each
cylinder is 0.5L and you have 8 cylinders you have a 4.0L
engine that may have about 200HP

Biodiesel Combustion
Gasoline versus Diesel
Aside from the type of fuels used, the major
differences between gasoline and diesel engines
include:
1. Diesel engines use compression ignition, as
opposed to spark ignition (sparkplugs).
2. Diesel engines control their load (power
production) by metering the amount of fuel, as
opposed to the amount of air (throttle).
Biodiesel Combustion
Biodiesel background information
Dr. Rudolf Diesel first demonstrated his diesel engine, which ran on
peanut oil, to the world in the early 1900s. The high compression of
diesel engines creates heat in the combustion cylinder, and thus
does not require a highly flammable fuel such as that used in
gasoline engines. The diesel engine was originally promoted to
farmers as one for which they could grow their own fuel. Diesels,
with their high torque, excellent fuel efficiency, and long engine life
are now the engine of choice for large trucks, tractors, machinery,
and some passenger vehicles. Diesel passenger vehicles are not
presently common in the United States due to engine noise, smoky
exhaust, and cold weather starting challenges. However, their use is
quite normal in Europe and Latin America, and more diesel are
starting appear to appear in the US market
Biodiesel Combustion
Stock Photo -
Diesel engine:
internal
combustion engine
invented by
Rudolph Diesel in
1897 (c1910)
Biodiesel Combustion
Over time, the practice of running the engines on
vegetable oil became less common as petroleum
diesel fuel became cheap and readily available.
Today, people are rediscovering the environmental
and economic benefits of making fuel from raw and
used vegetable oils.
Biodiesel is a renewable fuel now accepted by the
federal government as an environmentally friendly
alternative to petroleum diesel, biodiesel is in use
throughout the world
Biodiesel Combustion
All Sources
of Bio-
Diesel on
the West
Coast
Biodiesel Combustion
Public Pumps
B100
Yes! You can
drive from
Mexico to
Canada on
Biodiesel
Biodiesel Combustion
Biodiesel benefits compared to petroleum
diesel
Using a waste product as an energy source
Clean burning: lower in carbon monoxide, and
carcinogens
Lower in sulfur compounds
Significant carbon dioxide reductions: less impact on
global climate change
Domestically available: 30 million gallons of waste
restaurant grease are produced annually in US
Biodiesel Combustion
Biodiesel Combustion
Biodiesel benefits compared to petroleum
diesel
Biodiesel can be readily mixed with diesel fuel in any
proportion. For example B100 contains 100%
biodiesel, B20 contains 20%
Biodiesel can be run in any unmodified engine
Biodiesel is less flammable than diesel. It will get at a
higher temperature (typically around 20F) and thus
should be mixed with petroleum fuel in cold weather
Biodiesel Combustion
How does an engine make power?
The power producing capabilities of an internal
combustion engine lie in the combustion process.
Near the top dead center position, the fuel and air
mixture ignite and combust during the combustion
process.
C8H18 + 12.5(O2 + 3.76N2) 8CO2 + 9H2O + 47N2
A stoichiometric mixture is one where there is a
chemically correct amount of air to combust the fuel.
A lean mixture has an excess of air.
A rich mixture has an excess of fuel
Biodiesel Combustion
Emissions formation
A continued technical challenge for internal combustion engines is
exhaust emissions.
Before, the ideal combustion reaction for iso-octane was given as:
C8H18 + 12.5(O2 + 3.76N2) 8CO2 + 9H2O + 47N2
In reality, however, the products of combustion look something like:
C8H18 + 12.5(O2 + 3.76N2) aCO2 + bH2O + cCO + dH2 + eNO +
fHC + soot
CO Regulated, toxic
NO Contributes to local ozone formation (SMOG) and acid rain
HC Unburned fuel, works to NO to form local ozone
Soot Particulate matter, potentially carcinogenic
CO2 Global warming gas

Biodiesel Combustion
How does an Engine Make Power ?
Gasoline SI= Spark Ignition
Diesel CI= Compression Ignition
Compression Ignition
1. Atomization: Mixing mechanisms with air obtaining an ignitable
air/fuel mixture rate 5/10 means 5 parts of air/10 parts of fuel
2. Vaporization: Pressure and temperature
3. Wait: Chemical bond separation
4. Ignition
5. Combustion:C8H18 + 12.5(O2 + 3.76N2) 8CO2 + 9H2O + 47N2


Biodiesel Combustion
In reality the products of combustion look like
C8H18 + 12.5(O2 + 3.76N2) aCO2 + bH2O + cCO
+ dH2 + eNO + fHC + soot
The engines exhaust three way catalyst
1. CO carbon monoxide
2. HC Unburned fuels CH4 methane
3. NOx Nitric oxide


Biodiesel Combustion
IS THIS CHEMISTRY?
Yes! Automotive engineers have to take Chemistry in
college automobile/car/truck/tractor/tires all
contain air pressure or
THEY ARE FLAT
Since pressure and volume are indirectly
proportional (opposite).
Boyles Law V1P1=V2P2 if the pressure of an ideal gas
increases the volume decreases

Biodiesel Combustion
Bibliography
file:///H:/Biodiesel%20Formula.htm
www.biodieselamerica.com
www.biodiesel.org
http://www3.science.tamu.edu/CMSE/activities/inde
x.asp
http://teachersummit.tamu.edu/resources
A and B Scott Organic Chemistry
http://members.ophnet.com.au/scottsoftb/





BIodiesel Combustion
Bibliography
HOLT, RINEHART and WINSTON
MODERN CHEMESTRY Texas Edition
Labs and Demonstrations
http://www.google.com/top/science/che
mistry/education/Labs_and_Demostrat
ions/


Biodiesel Combustion
Thank you
E3 Teacher Summer Research Program
Dr. Timothy Jacobs
The Dwight Look College of Engineering
Texas A&M University
The Texas Engineering Experiment
Station
The National
Science Foundation