Feasibility analysis of crude rice bran oil methyl ester blend as a stationary and automotive diesel engine fuel

In the present investigation an attempt was made to test the feasibility of crude rice bran oil methyl ester (CRBME) which is derived from high free fatty acid (FFA) crude rice bran oil (CRBO) by a two-step transesterification process as a fuel for a heavy-duty automotive compression ignition (CI), i.e. diesel engine in blended form. While running with CRBME blend significant reductions in CO, UBHC and particulate emission were observed with a marginal increase in NOx emission than that of diesel. Brake thermal efficiency of the engine reduced marginally for CRBME blend when compared with diesel. In addition to technical feasibility, the economic feasibility of CRBME blend as a CI engine fuel was also analyzed by comparing its hourly fuel cost with CRBO blend and diesel. It was found that the hourly fuel cost of CRBME blend is higher than CRBO blend and diesel. Calculations have shown that the hourly fuel cost of CRBME blend when used in a stationary engine increases by 50% while that in an automotive engine increases by 45% when compared to diesel. Experimental results show that as a fuel for a heavy-duty diesel engine CRBME blend shows better emission characteristics than diesel with a marginal increase in NOx emission. Hence efforts can be taken to utilize it effectively.