A Cummins N14-410 engine was operated on twelve fuels produced by blending methyl tallowate, methyl soyate and fuel ethanol with No.2 diesel fuel. Engine in-cylinder pressure data were collected and used to evaluate the rate of heat release, mass fraction of fuel burned and charge temperature with respect to crank angle. It was observed that the rate of heat release decreased with increasing engine speed. Peak rates of heat release for a// fuel blends were less than for No.2 diesel fuel. When methyl tallowate was blended with No.2 diesel fuel, the shift in the location of peak heat release was away from top dead center (TDC) whereas the addition of ethanol to the blend shifted the location towards TDC. Ignition delay sltghtly decreased when methyl tallowate was blended with diesel fuel. However, ignition delays were not Acted by the methyl tallowate content of the blend. The addition of ethanol to the fuel blends did not affect ignition delay. The charge temperature decreased with decrease in diesel content of the fuel blends. A reduction in charge temperature can reduce NO, emissions.

A Cummins N14-410 diesel engine was operated on twelve fuels produced by blending methyl tailowate, methyl soyate and ethanol with No.2 diesel fuel. Engine incylinder pressure data were used to evaluate engine performance.Peak cylinder pressures for each fuel blend at all engine speeds were lower than peak pressure for diesel fuel with the exception of the 80 % diesel, 13 % methyl tallowate, and 7 % ethanol; and the 80 % diesel, 6.5 % methyl tallowate, 6.5 % methyl soyate and 7 % ethanol blends.The indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) values for ail fuel blends were less than for diesel fuel. The differences in lMEP values correlated with differences in power output of the engine. Similarly, maximum rates of pressure rise for most fuel blends were less than for diesel fuel. It was concluded that the fuel blends used in this study would have no detrimental long term effects on engine performance, engine wear and knock.KEYWORDS: Methyl tallowate, methyl soyate, biodiesel, ethanol, Cummins engine, peak pressure, indicated mean effective pressure, rate of pressure change.