Tribological Issues Related to the Use of Biofuels: A New Environmental Challenge

Abstract

Due to gradual depletion of world petroleum reserves and the impact of environmental pollution of increasing exhaust emissions, there is an urgent need for suitable alternative fuels for use in engines. The heightened awareness of green house gas emissions and global warming compels introduction of more stringent environmental regulations worldwide. Renewable biofuels are considered potential solution for these problems. But use of biofuel is creating tribology related new challenges world over. In this paper a critical analysis of tribology related issue of three main biofuels, namely Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO), biodiesel and alcohols are discussed. Many issues like lubricity of blends, carbon deposit, viscosity, corrosion of engine components, etc are discussed in detail. Quality control of biofuels, identified as a key factor for sustainable market growth of these fuels and can lead to many tribological issues. In this regard a dire need for global harmonized standards is also discussed. Different solutions for alcohol fuel related engine problems are discussed. Critical discussion in relation to the problems due to the use of SVO in engine, like engine performance decrease, injector choking, oil ring sticking, etc took place in this paper. Potential solutions to these problems found by academia as well as industry are discussed here.

Fuel-Lubricant Interactions: Critical Review of Recent Work

“…There has been much research into the impact of biofuels on engine performance and the impact of biofuels on lubricants and lubrication [52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68].…”

Global Climate Change: A Threat to Food Security and Environmental Conservation

“…Rapid socio-economic changes in some developing countries like India, China, etc, are influencing dramatically the fuel consumption pattern world over (Bhangale and Mondal, 2011;Tewari and Mondal, 2011;Tandon et al, 2011). An increase of 880 TWh of electricity consumption in transport in 2030 compared with the Reference Scenario, of which 90% occurs in PLDVs, results in about 250 Mt of additional CO 2 emissions (WEO, 2009;Mondal et al, 2011b).…”

“…Biofuel like SVOs are produced easily in rural areas where there is an acute need for modern forms of energy. In the case of agricultural applications, fuels that can be produced in rural areas in a decentralized manner, near the consumption points will be favored (Mondal et al, 2008;Tandon et al, 2011).…”

“…The rise in the amount of CO 2 in the atmosphere is 1.0 -3.5 0 C (1PCC, 2007a). If emissions of greenhouse gases, and in particular CO2, continue unabated the enhanced greenhouse effect may alter the world's climate system irreversibly (Mondal et al, 2011b, Tandon et al, 2011. CC has a profound and unavoidable effect on food security in Africa as increasing temperature and shifting rain patterns reduce access to food across the continents.…”

Physic Nut: A Proactive Climate Change Risk Management Strategy

“…Rapid socio-economic changes in some developing countries like India, China, etc, are influencing dramatically the fuel consumption pattern world over (Bhangale and Mondal, 2011;Tewari and Mondal, 2011;Tandon et al, 2011). Therefore, a type of development that meets the needs of present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to achieve their own needs should be sustained.…”