DETERMINATION OF HIGHER HEATING VALUE OF BIODIESELS

Abstract

Biodiesel, an alternative fuel can be used in diesel engine as neat or blended with diesel. The physiochemical properties of fuel are important in design of fuel system for compression ignition engine run on diesel, biodiesel or biodiesel blend. The HHV is an important property which characterizes the energy content of a fuel such as solid, liquid and gaseous fuels. The biodiesels were characterized for their physical and main fuel properties including viscosity, density, flash point and higher heating value. The viscosities of biodiesels were much less than those of pure oils and their HHV’s of approximately 42 MJ/kg were 10% less than those of petro diesel fuels. The HHVs of vegetable oils and their biodiesels were measured and correlated using linear least square regression analysis. An equation was developed relating HHV and thermal properties. The predicted higher heating values compare well with the measured Higher Heating Values. This work establishes the general dependence of higher heating value on thermal properties of biodiesel.