• Energy Research

After the successful implementation of B5, 5% palm (Elaeis guineensis) based biodiesel, in Malaysia on June 1, 2011, the Malaysian government is now looking to phase out B5 by replacing it with B10 or even a higher blending ratio. Being non-edible feedstock, jatropha (Jatropha curcas) can play a vital role along with the existing palm oil. This experiment was conducted in a four-cylinder diesel engine fuelled with B5, 10%, and 20% blends of palm (PB10 and PB20) and jatropha (JB10 and JB20) biodiesel and compared with fossil diesel at full load and in the speed range of 1000 to 4000 RPM. The brake power was decreased on average 2.3% to 10.7% while operating on 10% and 20% blends of palm and jatropha biodiesel. An average of 26.4% BSFC increment was observed for PB20 and JB20 blends. An average of 30.7% carbon monoxide (CO) and 25.8% hydrocarbon (HC) emission reductions were found for 20% blends. On average, the nitrogen oxides (NOx) emission is decreased by 3.3% while operating on PB10 and PB20 blends, whereas it is increased by 3.0% while operating on JB10 and JB20 blends.

Fossil fuel depletion, global warming with rapid changes in climate, and increases in oil prices have motivated scientists to search for alternative fuel. Biodiesel can be an effective solution despite some limitations, such as poor fuel properties and engine performance. From this perspective, experiments were carried out to improve fuel properties and engine performance by using a binary blend of palm and coconut biodiesel at an optimized ratio. MATLAB optimization tool was used to determine this blend ratio. A new biodiesel was developed and represented by PC (optimum blend of palm and coconut biodiesel). Engine performance and emission were tested under a full load at variable speed condition by using a 20% blend of each biodiesel with petroleum diesel, and the results were compared with petroleum diesel under both turbocharged and non-turbocharged conditions. PC20 (blend of 20% PC biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel) showed the highest engine power with lower brake-specific fuel consumption than the other tested fuels in the presence of a turbocharger. The emissions of PC20 were lower than those of all other tested fuels. The experimental analysis reveals that PC showed superior performance and emission over palm biodiesel blend.

Petro diplomacy has played its role in last few decades and that makes energy security a major concern worldwide. Rapid climate change and environmental protection is another vital issue to be addressed in recent energy policies. So an alternative carbon neutral transport fuel is a must in new sustainable energy mix. Biodiesel has immense potentiality to be a part of a sustainable energy mix. In this energy scenario, Brazil's success is a role model in utilizing its agro-industry for reducing poverty, greenhouse gas emission and petro-dependency simultaneously. Brazil commercialized bioethanol in mass scale by introducing flexible fuel vehicles in market. This dedicated engine idea moralizes a new concept of dedicated biodiesel engine vehicles for Malaysia and Indonesia. Southeast Asian countries, i.e. Malaysia and Indonesia is the largest producer as well as exporter of palm oil. Growing at highest yield rate among other biodiesel feedstock, palm based biodiesel is a top exported product for this region. This paper will quantify the prospects of a dedicated biodiesel engine vehicle for Malaysia and Indonesia that will initiate palm based biodiesel in fuel supply chain by leapfrogging the barriers of biodiesel utilization by boosting local automobile industry simultaneously. This article will also review on energy scenario of Malaysia and Indonesia and their renewable energy policies and challenges for coming decades.

Research on alternative fuels is increasing due to environmental concerns and diminishing fossil fuel reserves. Biodiesel is one of the best renewable replacements for petroleum-based fuels. This paper examines the potential of biodiesel obtained from Jatropha curcas and Moringa oleifera oils. The physico-chemical properties of J. curcas and M. oleifera methyl esters were presented, and their 10% by volume blends (JB10 and MB10) were compared with diesel fuel (B0). The performance of these fuels and their emissions were assessed in a fully loaded multi-cylinder diesel engine at various engine speeds. The properties of J. curcas and M. oleifera biodiesels and their blends agreed with ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 standards. Engine performance test results indicated that the JB10 and the MB10 fuels produced slightly lower brake powers and higher brake specific fuel consumption values compared to diesel fuel over the entire range of speeds. Engine emission results indicated that the JB10 and MB10 fuels reduced the average emissions of carbon monoxide by 14 and 11%, respectively; and hydrocarbons by 16 and 12%, respectively. However, the JB10 and MB10 fuels slightly increased nitrous oxides emissions by 7 and 9%, respectively, and carbon dioxide by 7 and 5%, respectively compared to B0. In conclusion, J. curcas and M. oleifera are potential feedstock for biodiesel production, and the JB10 and MB10 blends can replace diesel fuel without modifying engines to produce cleaner exhaust emissions.

Abstract The aim of this review is to study the opportunities and prospects of introducing diesel–biodiesel–ethanol/bioethanol blend as fuel in the existing diesel engines. The study is based on the engine emissions and its performance. The energy policies and the ever growing energy demand of the world, require an alternative to fossil fuels. In this quest, the diesel–ethanol blend or the diesohol blend might be a good option. But this blend possesses stability problem as well as inferior physicochemical properties when compared to diesel fuel and needs additives to remain stable. When biodiesel is used as an additive in this diesohol blend, it improves the physicochemical properties of the ternary blend, engine performance and also increases the renewable portion of the blend. First the engine performance and emissions data found by using diesel–biodiesel–ethanol/bioethanol ternary blends are accumulated. Then the results of the scientists and investigators are discussed to evaluate its potential as an alternative to fossil diesel fuel. The physicochemical properties of ternary blends are found to be almost similar to the diesel fuel. These ternary blends significantly reduce the PM (particulate matter) emissions from the diesel engine but the emissions of NO x (nitrogen oxides), soot and smoke, HC (hydrocarbon), CO (carbon monoxide), CO 2 (carbon dioxide) and the carbonyl compounds depend on the operating conditions of the engine and remain almost similar to the diesel fuel exhaust.

In this work, the effects of different fiber loadings on the mechanical properties of the composites at the sub-micron scale were studied through nanoindentation followed by physical characterization. The composites were prepared by incorporating different loadings of wheat straw, corn stalk, and rice husk in polypropylene copolymer using a melt processing method followed by thermal–hydraulic compression technique. Nanoindentation experiments in quasi-continuous stiffness mode were performed on the surfaces of produced composites to study the composites’ elastic modulus, hardness, and creep properties. The obtained results expressed the in-depth study of the micro- and macro-level structure and behavior of particle interactions. The findings demonstrated that observable shifts in composites’ hardness, elastic modulus, and creep rate had occurred. The WS-reinforced biocomposite sheet showed the highest elastic modulus of 1.09 and hardness of 0.11 GPa at 40 wt% loading in comparison to other loadings. An impact strength of 7.55 kJ/m2 was noted for the biocomposite at 40 wt% RH loading. In addition, optical microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, water absorption, thickness swelling, and Vicat softening point studies were conducted on biocomposite sheets to evaluate differences in physical, mechanical, and thermal properties. The outstanding mechanical performance of the newly developed composites makes them suitable for use as a biodegradable packaging material.

Abstract Biodiesels are gaining more importance as a promising alternative energy resource. Engine performance and emission characteristics of unmodified biodiesel fueled diesel engines are highly influenced by its ignition and combustion behavior. This review article presents the literature review on ignition delay (ID), combustion and emission characteristics of biodiesel fueled diesel engine. More than hundred articles report which have been published mostly in the last decade are reviewed in this paper. The investigation results report that the combustion characteristics of bio fueled engine is slightly different from the engine running with petroleum diesel. Most of the investigation results have reported that as compared to diesel, biodiesel has early start of combustion (SOC) and shorter ID of between 1–5° and 0.25–1.0°, respectively. Higher cetane number (CN), lower compressibility and fatty acid composition of biodiesel have been identified as the main elements for early SOC and shorter ID. In addition, it is also found that, the heat release rate (HRR) of biodiesel is slightly lower than diesel owing to the lower calorific value, lower volatility, shorter ID and higher viscosity.

Biodiesel is gaining recognition as a good replacement for typical diesel owing to its renewability, sustainability, and eco-friendly nature. Transesterification is the leading route for biodiesel generation, which occurs during homogeneous/heterogeneous/enzymatic catalysis. Besides this, the usage of heterogeneous catalysts is considered more advantageous over homogeneous catalysts due to the easy catalyst recovery. Consequently, numerous heterogeneous catalysts have been synthesized from multiple sources with the intention of making the manufacturing process more efficient and cost-effective. Alongside this, numerous researchers have attempted to improve the biodiesel yield using heterogeneous catalysts by introducing cosolvents, such that phase limitation between oil and alcohol can be minimized. This short review is aimed at examining the investigations performed to date on heterogeneously catalyzed biodiesel generation in the presence of different cosolvents. It encompasses the techniques for heterogeneous catalyst synthesis, reported in the literature available for heterogeneous catalyzed biodiesel generation using cosolvents and their effects. It also suggests that the application of cosolvent in heterogeneously catalyzed three-phase systems substantially reduces the mass transfer limitation between alcohol and oil phases, which leads to enhancements in biodiesel yield along with reductions in values of optimized parameters, with catalyst weight ranges from 1 to 15 wt. %, and alcohol/oil ratio ranges from 5.5 to 20. The reaction time for getting the maximum conversion ranges from 10 to 600 min in the presence of different cosolvents. Alongside this, most of the time, the biodiesel yield remained above 90% in the presence of cosolvents.