Characterisation of Bio-Diesel Blends for Combustion in Swirl Burner

Authors- Ademola Samuel Akinwonmi, Moses Oluwatobi Fajobi

Abstract-– This study utilized commercially available diesel, palm kernel and groundnut oils to produce biodiesel. Raw palm kernel oil (PKO) and groundnut oil (GO) were purchased from the local producers. Each of them was blended with conventional diesel in the ratios 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4 respectively and each sample subjected to a proximate analysis by using American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards to determine the density, kinematic viscosity, flashpoint and specific gravity respectively. Findings showed that the best ratio that yielded very low biodiesel density was 1:1 for the AGOPKO blend with 0.901 g/ml. While that of the AGOGO blend is the sample in ratio 1:2 with a density value of 0.8894 g/ml. None of the kinematic viscosity recorded was lower than the limit set by the ASTM standard because all of them have far above 1.9 cSt recommended. Only the ratio 1:4 of DPKO met the minimum standard biodiesel flashpoint of 132 °C. While the same value was obtained for the two samples of blends in ratio 1:4 which is 0.905 each for AGOPKO and AGOGO, implying that specific gravity is inversely proportional to density, kinematic viscosity and flashpoint respectively. Furthermore, the optimum calorific values (45.35 and 45.40 MJ/kg) were obtained at ratio 1:2 of AGOPKO and ratio 1:1 of AGOGO respectively. The specific biofuels samples when combusted in a swirl burner gave a maximum temperature of (1020, 992, 966 and 950)oC and (1055,1022,997 and 969)oC respectively. Therefore, groundnut-palm kernel oil based fuel is suitable for combustion.

DOI: /10.61463/ijset.vol.13.issue2.302