Development of Solar Powered Biodiesel Reactor for Kuwait Sheep Tallow

Abstract

Biodiesel is one of the more recent green fuel products in the world. It can be produced from several raw materials such as straight vegetable oils, animal fats, tallow, and waste cooking oils, and blended with diesel. Properties of biodiesel are different compared to fossil diesel in terms of production methods and emission levels released after combustion in an internal combustion engine. Kuwait consumes a huge amount of energy which is almost 8% to meet the increasing demand for electricity and water. Moreover, the use of electricity in the production of biodiesel increases energy use and cost of production. Kuwait is receiving an amount of solar irradiation ranging from 2050 kWh/m2 to 2100 kWh/m2. The present study is concerned with the evaluation of the potential to use solar energy to produce biodiesel from sheep fat waste as a raw material. An experimental test rig was set up for a single cylinder diesel engine in the laboratory, where a solar power system was used to assist the production process of biodiesel from tallow waste. The biodiesel is then blended with diesel at different volume percentages, such as graded as B20, B50, B75 and B100, respectively. The exhaust gases such as oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitric oxide and nitric dioxide where also analyzed. An optimum decrease in values of nitric oxide levels was observed at the load of 51%, 68%, 85% and 93% during the operation at blend of biodiesel B20, B50, B75 and B100, respectively. Nitric dioxide was decreased at the load of 51%, 68% and 85% during the operation using B20, B50 and B75, respectively. Optimum SFC was achieved at B20, B50 and B75 during high loads of 85% and 93%. It can be concluded that sheep tallow biodiesel shows a promising result in terms of fuel consumption and environmental emissions of greenhouse gases.

Application of Ultrasonic Atomization on a Micro Jet Engine Using Biofuel for Improving Performance

“…This can best be explained by the decreasing density of the biodiesel with increasing addition of kerosene. A similar finding was reported by Park et al [16] and Alajmi et al [17].…”

Impact of Plasma Combustion Technology on Micro Gas Turbines Using Biodiesel Fuels

“…In Kuwait, fat waste from sheep is the primary feedstock for biodiesel production with high contents of free fatty acids (49.1 mgKOH/g). Fat waste is sustainable, abundant, and inexpensive and reduces handling and risk of impacting on the environment without economic competition, as seen in vegetable oils [28]. In addition, use of jet fuel in the operation of engines has the disadvantages low thermal efficiency, poor atomization or vitalization, and low vapor pressure.…”

Biodiesel Production from Waste Cooking Oil Using Different Types of Catalysts

“…It is a well-known fact that fossil energy reserves are gradually decreasing and will be depleted in the near future. In addition, fossil fuels are regional energy sources, they lead to increased environmental pollution and create greenhouse gas emissions as a result of the combustion reaction; thus, energy research is focused on renewable energy sources [1][2][3].…”