Selected Fuel Properties of Alcohol and Rapeseed Oil Blends

Carolin Nuortila, Riikka Help, Katriina Sirviö, Helena Suopanki, Sonja Heikkilä and Seppo Niemi
Additional contact information
Carolin Nuortila: School of Technology and Innovations, University of Vaasa, P.O. Box 700, FI-65101 Vaasa, Finland
Riikka Help: School of Technology and Innovations, University of Vaasa, P.O. Box 700, FI-65101 Vaasa, Finland
Katriina Sirviö: School of Technology and Innovations, University of Vaasa, P.O. Box 700, FI-65101 Vaasa, Finland
Helena Suopanki: School of Technology and Innovations, University of Vaasa, P.O. Box 700, FI-65101 Vaasa, Finland
Sonja Heikkilä: School of Technology and Innovations, University of Vaasa, P.O. Box 700, FI-65101 Vaasa, Finland
Seppo Niemi: School of Technology and Innovations, University of Vaasa, P.O. Box 700, FI-65101 Vaasa, Finland

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 15, 1-11

Abstract: The alcohols ethanol and 1-butanol are interesting options as blending components for renewable fuels. We studied whether it is possible to mix these alcohols with a little refined material, rapeseed oil, to obtain stable fuel samples. At room temperature, the stable samples consisted of rapeseed oil blended with butanol at 5 vol-%, 10 vol-%, 20 vol-%, 30 vol-% and one sample of rapeseed oil with 5 vol-% of ethanol. The samples’ fuel properties analysed were kinematic viscosity (at 40 °C), density (at 15 °C) and surface tension. Cold filter plugging point was measured for rapeseed oil with 20 vol-% and 30 vol-% of butanol. Stability of butanol or ethanol and rapeseed oil blends can be achieved at the studied volumes. The density of neat rapeseed oil and all the alcohol–rapeseed oil blends met the requirements set for residual marine fuels. The 30 vol-% butanol–rapeseed oil blend met the requirements for distillate marine oil for density, and almost for kinematic viscosity. The blends appeared most suitable for power plants and marine engines. More detailed analyses of their properties are needed before recommendations for use can be given.

Keywords: alternative fuels; biofuels; blend properties; renewable energy (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: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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