SVO (Rapeseed/Canola Oil) Study

[AKaiser]

Advanced Combustion Research for Energy from Vegetable Oils (ACREVO)

Somewhat technical, but based on what I read here, it looked positive. The study indicated that Rapeseed Oil needed to be heated to between 100-130 degrees Celsius (212-266 deg F) at the injector, and optimal temp is actually 150 degrees Celsius, (302 deg F) at which point the viscosity and atomization best approximates/matches that of DF2 (DoD-ese for No 2 Diesel). This can be cut down to 80 degrees Celsius (176 deg F) by blending in 9% Ethyl alcohol.

"Generally all measured operating characteristics power, torque, fuel consumption and efficiency prove, that when using these novel fuels there are only slight power and consumption disadvantages in comparison to Diesel fuel. Only with coconut and palm kernel oil methylester were the operating characteristics definitely worse, while soybean oil methylester is placed between the two groups."

Rapeseed oil also shows 40% of the soot of DF2.

"The objective of the ACREVO project developed by LCSR / CNRS in Orleans (France) is to investigate the burning characteristics of vegetable oil droplets from experiments conducted under high pressure and high temperature conditions. With such investigations, combustion performances of vegetable oils as biofuels for Diesel engines could be improved."

Source is linked below.
Copyright CPL Scientific Publishing Services Ltd
2001-2006

www.biomatnet.org/secure/Fair/F484.htm