HOT-WATER DEGUMMED RAPESEED OIL AS A FUEL FOR DIESEL-ENGINES

Laboratory and road test results are presented for two diesel engines running on hot water degummed rapeseed oil/diesel fuel blends. This de gumming process is critical as it removes the harmful gums, which lead to filter blocking and coking problems reported by other workers. As the percentage of rapeseed oil in the diesel oil increased from 15 to 65%, no change in short-term engine performance was observed. In confi rmation tests, engine power was reduced by up to 6.7% with no change i n fuel consumption. In addition, the exhaust gas emissions (CO2, CO, h ydrocarbons and smoke) remained substantially unchanged. It was conclu ded that hot water degummed rapeseed oil was a suitable fuel, when ble nded with diesel oil, for use in diesel engines. This study included b oth short-term and longer term confirmation engine reliability tests.