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Performance Evaluation of Vegetable-based Waste Cooking Oil Biodiesel as Alternative Diesel Engine Fuel

Many researches had attempted characterization of biodiesel to determine its appropriateness as fuel for internal combustion engine. The paper aimed at evaluating the performance of vegetable –based waste cooking oil biodiesel as alternative diesel engine fuel. The methodology of the study was experimental. The waste oil was transesterified and chemical analyses performed to establish physico-chemical properties of diesel, ‘pure’ biodiesel and blends. The test fuels were evaluated for brake specific fuel consumption and brake thermal efficiency (ηth) at varying brake power on test rig consisting of Mazda engine coupled with a power take off propeller inserted in the power take off shape to Froude hydraulic dynamometer. The results were that at all brake power, the BSFC decreased as strength of diesel increased in the blend. At brake power of 15KW, BSFC (kg/KWh) for BD25, BD50, and BD75 were 0.41, 0.40 and 0.38 respectively while automobile gas oil and pure biodiesel recorded 21.5 and 23.8 in that order. The brake thermal efficiency had a contrary trend with BSFC. However, as the load increased, brake thermal efficiency (ηth) increased for all the test fuels utilized. In conclusion, biodiesel has demonstrated features of lean fuel, but exhibited high performance in IC engine. The technology could support agricultural value chain and boost socioeconomic development of Africa. Keywords: Biodiesel, Brake Fuel Consumption, Efficiency, Test Rig, Blends, Dynamometer