Density Straight vegetable oil Diesel engine Combustion a b s t r a c tThe straight use of vegetable oils as fuel in diesel engines entails adjusting several physical properties such as density and viscosity. By adequately heating the vegetable oil before entering the injection system, its physical parameters can reach values very close to that of diesel fuel. Consequently, by properly adjusting the temperature of vegetable oils used as fuel, it is possible to improve their combustion performance, thus avoiding premature engine aging due to incomplete burning. In this study the density and viscosity of several vegetable oils are studied within a wide variety of temperatures. The optimal range of temperatures at which each vegetable oil should operate in order to adjust its properties to those of automotive diesel and biodiesel is then found. Additionally an empirical relationship between the dependence of viscosity with density is presented. Thus, by means of the above-described relationship, through measuring the density of a given oil, its viscosity can be directly deduced.ª 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. IntroductionDiesel engines are being extensively utilized worldwide due to their high economic advantage and durability [1,2]. They have appealing features including robustness, high torque, and lower fuel consumption under certain conditions. According to Moron et al. [3] they are prevalent in sectors such as road and train transport, agriculture, military, construction, mining, maritime propulsion and stationary electricity production. Diesel engines can use several fuel types, including diesel fuel, straight vegetable oils (SVO), biodiesel e transesterified vegetable oil e and short chain alcohols. Diesel engines may also function with hybrid fuels, including SVO mixtures in different proportions with diesel or diesel/ ethanol. At the present time there is an increasing demand for energy, concerns about global warming and a growing interest in renewable energy sources; particularly in biofuels [4,5]. This is due to diminishing reserves and price instability of the world's petroleum fuel. These challenges are in part due to the diesel engines themselves. Consequently, it is an urgent matter to reduce hazardous pollutants that diesel engines emit such as NO x , CO, CO 2 and particulate matter (PM). According to Lee at al.[1] this can be achieved by using new combustion technology, by improving fuel characteristics and or by applying after-treatment technology. It is well known that utilizing biofuels with internal combustion engines may contribute to reduce greenhouse gas emissions [6]. Smallscale produced SVOs are considered attractive options for renewable fuel because of environmental benefits [7]. Smallscale use of vegetable oils is also considered an interesting option because they can be obtained from agricultural or industrial sources with very simple processing. This processing includes cold pressing and refining stages that avoid * Corresponding author. Tel.: þ34 938035300; fax: þ34 938031...

The COVID lockdown has affected food purchases and eating habits. In this regard, this short communication assesses the nutritional and environmental impacts of these changes during the COVID lockdown in Spain, by applying Life Cycle Assessment and an energy- and nutrient-corrected functional unit. Three environmental impacts were studied (Global Warming Potential, Blue Water Footprint and Land Use) and a total of seven weekly diet scenarios were designed: two pre-COVID diets for March and April in 2019 (MAR19, APR19), one COVID diet (COVID) and two alternative diets, one based on the National Dietary Guidelines (NDG) and another one on the Planetary Health Diet (PHD). Results show that the COVID diet had larger energy intake and lower nutritional quality, as well as higher environmental impacts (between 30 and 36%) than the pre-COVID eating patterns. Further research is needed to account for food affordability within this assessment, as well as to analyze how eating patterns will evolve after the COVID lockdown. Finally, the definition of short guidelines for sustainable food behaviors for future possible lockdowns is suggested, as well as the introduction of sustainable indicators within NDGs.

Abstract-Hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES) have been widely identified as an efficient mechanism 6 to generate electrical power based on renewable energy sources (RES). This kind of energy generation 7 systems are based on the combination of one or more RES allowing to complement the weaknesses of one 8 with strengths of another and, therefore, reducing installation costs with an optimized installation. To do so, 9 optimization methodologies are a trendy mechanism because they allow attaining optimal solutions given a 10 certain set of input parameters and variables. This work is focused on the optimal sizing of hybrid grid-11 connected photovoltaic -wind power systems from real hourly wind and solar irradiation data and electricity 12 demand from a certain location. The proposed methodology is capable of finding the sizing that leads to a 13 minimum life cycle cost of the system while matching the electricity supply with the local demand. In the 14 present article, the methodology is tested by means of a case study in which the actual hourly electricity retail

 Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research.  You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain  You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim.