Renewable Energy, cilt.119, ss.142-151, 2018 (SCI-Expanded)
Biodiesel is a very popular renewable alternative fuel. Biodiesel utilization rate as an alternative fuel has been increasing in recent years due to availability, comparatively easier manufacturing process as well as superior fuel properties like non-sulphur content and storage safety. There are many articles related to properties of biodiesel and its effects on engine performance in the literature. However, the studies that compared various biodiesel samples in the same experimental system are scarce. Therefore, results obtained from different experimental systems cannot be definitely benchmarked to provide a comprehensive comparative analysis.
In this study, engine performances of five different kinds of biodiesels produced from five different vegetable oils (corn, sunflower, soybean, canola and hazelnut) were compared with each other and with diesel fuel in the same experimental system. Therefore, biodiesel samples that include different ratios of (20%, 50%, and 100%) biodiesel in diesel fuel for each biodiesel sample was prepared after biodiesels were produced by transesterification method. Every sample was used as fuel in the diesel engine. Both effective characteristics and indicated characteristics were determined for each fuel during engine test. All values were compared each other graphically. Finally, it was found that the mixture consists of 20% hazelnut biodiesel has the best performance