Fuel production form waste vehicle tires and investigation of its usage in diesel engines

In this study, a fuel which can be used in diesel engines was produced from waste vehicle tires by the method of pyrolysis. In order to reduce the high sulfur content of the fuel, CaO, Ca(OH)2, and NaOH catalysts were used. In addition, the effects of variables such as the temperature, the catalyst ratio and the N2 flow rate on yield were investigated. The highest product yield was obtained with temperature of 500 °C and 200 cm3/min. N2 flow rate. Compared with the products obtained from initial pyrolysis, the sulfur content of the product was found to be %34.25 lower with the utilization of 5% Ca(OH)2 in the reaction. In order to make the sulfur content of the product closer diesel fuel, the acetic acid-H2O2, formic acid-H2O2 and H2SO4 were used in different proportions. Although, the other acids were also very effective, the use of 10% H2SO4 reduced sulfur content of the product by 75.27%. Thus, with 5% Ca(OH)2 and then with addition of 10% H2SO4, the sulfur content of the product was reduced by 83.75%. The properties of diesel fuel (DY), tire fuel derived from waste vehicle tires (LY), low sulfur tire fuel (DKLY) and fuel mixtures of DKLY-DY were analyzed. It was found that, the density and sulfur content of DKLY fuel were slightly higher than that of diesel fuel, but other features and distillation curves were very close to diesel fuel. Test fuels were used in a direct injection diesel engine. Performance characteristics and engine exhaust emissions were clarified and compared with DY fuel. When compared with DY, the amount of power obtained from use of DY-DKLY and LY-DKLY fuel mixtures were slightly decreased and specific fuel consumption were increased depending on LY and DKLY ratio of the mixture. In comparison to DY, the use of fuel mixtures of DY-LY and DY-DKLY were resulted in higher CO, HC, SO2 and smoke emissions, and lower NOx and CO2 emissions. As a result of the use of DKLY100 fuel for 50 hours, no abnormalities were occurred in the engine operation. In addition, any breaking of engine parts, cracking or bending was not occurred. It was concluded from the results of the studies that DKLY100, DKLY-DY mixtures and DY-LY mixtures containing lower rates of LY can be used in diesel engines.