Effects of the use of cottonseed oil as a fuel on the performance and wear of diesel engines

Thesis/Dissertation · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6370594

Ghotbi Ravandi, M A

The study was initiated by selecting two new single cylinder diesel engines and operating them simultaneously (one to be run on No. 2 diesel fuel and the other on 100% once-refined cottonseed oil) for an extended period of time. Two methods were applied to monitor wear: 1) by direct measurement of selected engine parts, and 2) by spectroscopic analysis of the crankcase lubricating oil at certain intervals. The performance of each engine was constantly checked by measuring power output, torque, rpm, fuel consumption, and temperatures of the exhaust, cylinder head, and block. The following conclusions were drawn: 1) the percentage of the total solids and concentrations of metals in the crankcase oil (all of which are important wear indicators) were considerably higher in the cottonseed oil fueled engine than in the diesel fueled engine; 2) cylinder wall measurements indicated a higher rate of wear in the cottonseed oil fueled engine as compared to the diesel fueled engine. The same trend was verified for bearings and piston rings; 3) carbon deposit accumulation was predominantly greater on the injector, valves, piston, and cylinder head of the cottonseed oil fueled engine than that of the diesel fueled engine; 4) excessive deposit accumulation and warpage of the intake valve in the cottonseed oil fueled engine required replacement of the valve; 5) although both engines performed similarly in the initial period of operation, the general performance and efficiency of the cottonseed oil fueled engine, as compared to the diesel fueled engine, became less satisfactory as the number of test hours increased.

• OSTI ID: 6370594
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
090000 -- Biomass Fuels
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320203 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Transportation-- Land & Roadway
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330103* -- Internal Combustion Engines-- Turbine
COTTONSEED OIL
DIESEL ENGINES
ENGINES
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
HEAT ENGINES
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE
VEGETABLE OILS
WEAR