Using Peanut Oil as a Fuel Additive in Tractor Diesel Engines

Abstract. As part of the environmental requirements for reducing the toxicity of exhaust gases of internal combustion engines, including diesel engines of tractor and combine harvesters, great attention is paid to various ways of reducing harmful substances in the exhaust gases combustion products. The problem of using energy-saving resources, including renewable energy, various types of alternative fuels is currently solved. In several ways these include using vegetable oils from various agricultural crops, one of which is peanut oil. Its use can help to solve two urgent problems: reducing the toxicity of exhaust gases of internal combustion engines. (Research objective) To analyze the properties of peanut oil as an additive to diesel fuel and evaluate the performance of a diesel engine using this type of fuel. (Materials and methods) The properties of peanut oil differ from those of diesel fuel by higher viscosity and lower heat value. To compensate for these shortcomings, kerosene has been added to the mixture of diesel fuel with peanut oil. In cold climatic conditions, the use of pure peanut oil is difficult, since its cloud point is 3.3 degrees Celsius, which is 20 degrees higher than that of diesel fuel. In the blend composition, the cloud point of the fuel decreases, which makes it possible to use it in colder conditions. (Results and discussion) The authors have conducted a study on the tractor engine D-120 coupled with a brake balancer installation without additional engine adjustments. As a result, they have obtained the characteristics of the engine working on fuel with the addition of peanut oil. The authors have compared the results of the engine operation on pure and mixed diesel fuel, revealed indicators of operating efficiency and toxicity of exhaust gases. (Conclusions) It has been proved experimentally that the addition of peanut oil to diesel fuel leads to a decrease in the specific effective fuel consumption, and also reduces the emission of soot and nitrogen oxides, while the engine power decreases slightly.

peanut oil, alternative fuel, diesel fuel additive, renewable energy sources, tractor diesel, biofuel

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