Production and fuel characteristics of vegetable oil from oilseed crops in the Pacific Northwest
The purpose of this research was to evaluate the potential yield and fuel quality of various oilseed crops adapted to the Pacific Northwest as a source of liquid fuel for diesel engines. The seed yield and oil production of three cultivars of winter rape (Brassica napus L.), two cultivars of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) and two cultivars of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) were evaluated in replicated plots at Moscow. Additional trials were conducted at several locations in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Sunflower, oleic and linoleic safflower, and low and high erucic acid rapeseed were evaluated for fatty acid composition, energy content, viscosity and engine performance in short term tests. During 20 minute engine tests power output, fuel economy and thermal efficiency were compared to diesel fuel. Winter rape produced over twice as much farm extractable oil as either safflower or sunflower. The winter rape cultivars, Norde and Jet Neuf had oil yields which averaged 1740 and 1540 L/ha, respectively. Vegetable oils contained 94 to 95% of the KJ/L of diesel fuel, but were 11.1 to 17.6 times more viscous. Viscosity of the vegetable oils was closely related to fatty acid chain length and number of unsaturated bonds (R/sup 2/=.99). During short term engine tests all vegetable oils produced power outputs equivalent to diesel, and had thermal efficiencies 1.8 to 2.8% higher than diesel. Based on these results it appears that species and cultivars of oilseed crops to be utilized as a source of fuel should be selected on the basis of oil yield. 1 figure, 5 tables.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Idaho, Moscow
- OSTI ID:
- 6104865
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-820860-
- Journal Information:
- ASAE Publ.; (United States), Conference: International conference on plant and vegetable oils as fuels, Fargo, ND, USA, 2 Aug 1982
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Performance of winter rape (Brassica napus) based fuel mixtures in diesel engines
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Related Subjects
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
DIESEL FUELS
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
VEGETABLE OILS
ECONOMICS
FUEL ECONOMY
PRODUCTION
THERMAL EFFICIENCY
USES
VISCOSITY
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CROPS
DIESEL ENGINES
IDAHO
LIQUID FUELS
OREGON
SUNFLOWERS
SYNTHETIC FUELS
TESTING
WASHINGTON
EFFICIENCY
ENGINES
FEDERAL REGION X
FUELS
HEAT ENGINES
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
NORTH AMERICA
OILS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLANTS
USA
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