Experimental Investigation of Diesel Engine Performance, Combustion and Emissions Using a Novel Series of Dioctyl Phthalate (DOP) Biofuels Derived from Microalgae

Farhad M. Hossain, Md. Nurun Nabi, Md. Mostafizur Rahman, Saiful Bari, Thuy Chu Van, S. M. Ashrafur Rahman, Thomas J. Rainey, Timothy A. Bodisco, Kabir Suara, Zoran Ristovski and Richard J. Brown
Additional contact information
Farhad M. Hossain: Biofuel Engine Research Facilities, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
Md. Nurun Nabi: School of Engineering and Technology, Central Queensland University, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
Md. Mostafizur Rahman: School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Automotive Engineering, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 2JH, UK
Saiful Bari: School of Engineering, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia
Thuy Chu Van: Biofuel Engine Research Facilities, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
S. M. Ashrafur Rahman: Biofuel Engine Research Facilities, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
Thomas J. Rainey: Biofuel Engine Research Facilities, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
Timothy A. Bodisco: School of Engineering, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia
Kabir Suara: Biofuel Engine Research Facilities, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
Zoran Ristovski: Biofuel Engine Research Facilities, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
Richard J. Brown: Biofuel Engine Research Facilities, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 10, 1-14

Abstract: Physico-chemical properties of microalgae biodiesel depend on the microalgae species and oil extraction method. Dioctyl phthalate (DOP) is a clear, colourless and viscous liquid as a plasticizer. It is used in the processing of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin and polymers. A new potential biofuel, hydrothermally liquefied microalgae bio-oil can contain nearly 11% (by mass) of DOP. This study investigated the feasibility of using up to 20% DOP blended in 80% diesel fuel ( v/v ) in an existing diesel engine, and assessed the performance and exhaust emissions. Despite reasonable differences in density, viscosity, surface tension, and boiling point, blends of DOP and diesel fuel were found to be entirely miscible and no separation was observed at any stage during prolonged miscibility tests. The engine test study found a slight decrease in peak cylinder pressure, brake, and indicated mean effective pressure, indicated power, brake power, and indicated and brake thermal efficiency with DOP blended fuels, where the specific fuel consumption increased. This is due to the presence of 16.4% oxygen in neat DOP, responsible for the relatively lower heating value, compared to that of diesel. The emission tests revealed a slight increase in nitrogen oxides (NO x ) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions from DOP blended fuels. However, particulate matter (PM) emissions were lower from DOP blended fuels, although some inconsistency in particle number (PN) was present among different engine loads.

Keywords: DOP; biofuels; microalgae; engine performance; NO x; PM; PN (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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