Performance of agricultural tractor consuming diesel and biodiesel derived from babassu (Orbinya martiana)

Abstract

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel to diesel engines. This study aimed to evaluate fuel consumption and smoke density of agricultural tractors fueled by biodiesel, diesel, and biodiesel/diesel mixtures in a tilled field. Treatments consisted of distilled methyl ester (biodiesel) of babassu (Orbinya martiana) and seven combinations of it with two standard diesel fuels (B S1800 and B S50). The blending ratios were 0, 5, 15, 25, 50, and 100% biodiesel in diesel oil (B0, B5, B15, B25, B50, and B100, respectively). Regarding the results for hourly volumetric consumption, no difference was found between B0 and B100 when using B S1800, whereas an 8% increase was observed when using the S50. The weighted hourly consumption increased by 11.29 and 16.9% from B0 to B100 using B S1800 and B S50, respectively. Similarly, the specific fuel consumption increased by 11.1% and 14.3% from B0 to B100 using B S1800 and B S50, respectively. Yet, when comparing B0 and B S1800, the smoke density reduction was 68.6% and between B S50 and B100 was 58.0%. Our findings show that babassu biodiesel is a suitable substitute for diesel oil, without causing any damage to the tractor's engine.

Biofuels from Renewable Sources, a Potential Option for Biodiesel Production

“…Detailed work on the parameters for fuel compatibility is required. Many things need to be worked out to make an algal biofuel a commercially viable option to fossil fuel, as the production of biofuels from microalgae is an energy-intensive process [199]. Further, greenhouse gas emissions are much lower; mainly, there is no emission of CO or CO 2 using this generation of biofuels.…”

A review on prospective production of biofuel from microalgae

“… Type of biofuel feedstock Stages of generation Source of Feedstock Research works Nut oils I generation Almond, Walnut and Pistchio [ 8 , 9 ] Edible oils I generation Mustard, rice bran, lemon seed and wheat germ [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ] Commercial oils I generation Coconut, rapeseed, soyabean, sunflower and cotton seed [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ] Inedible oils II generation Honge, mahua, jojoba, neem, rubber seed tree, jatropha, silk cotton tree, copaiba, castor and tall, Babassu tree. [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ] …”

“…dry wood, stalks of corn and wheat constitute 2nd generation biomass. Used oil products from restaurants, animal wastes and oil crops likely jojoba, jatropha and sea mango are also available materials as this next generation resource [ [19] , [20] , [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] , [28] ]. Types of nonedible converted to biofuels and the process used for production is given in Table 1 .…”