Optimization of methyl ester production from chicken fat and effects of fuel on engine performance

In this study, biodiesel production process from chicken fat was optimized using methyl alcohol and NaOH. Chicken fat biodiesel was blended volumetrically by 20% and 2% with pure biodiesel to obtain B20 and B2 fuels. Fuel properties of these were determined. On the other hand, B100, B20, B2 and pure biodiesel fuels were stored in dark and glass, plastic and metal containers at 4oC and 25oC for a period of 6 months carrying out bimonthly the measurements on the fuel properties. B100, B20 and B2 fuels were tested in a single cylinder, four-stroke, 12 BG, directly injected diesel engine and parameters such as moment, power, specific fuel consumption, CO, CO2, NOX, O2 and noise emissions, as well as smoke intensity were investigated. In conclusion to the study, B100, B20 and B2 fuels exhibited similar motor performance and physical properties with standard biodiesel, when used in the diesel motor. Considering the maximum moment values from the fuels, B2 fuel had 34.42 Nm at 1400 1/min; B20 had 33.29 Nm at 1500 1/min; B100 had 31.49 Nm at 1400 1/min; while standard diesel had 33.86 Nm at 1400 1/min. The minimum specific fuel consumption values were measured at 1500 1/min as 244.413 g/kWh for B100, 265.589 g/kWh for B2, 279.610 g/kWh for standard diesel and 289.024 g/kWh for B20. Thermal efficiency was determined at 1500 1/min as 36.411% for B100, 30.464% for B2, 28.307% for B20 and 28.226% for standard diesel. The exhaust emission values depicted that at all revolutions, with increasing amount of the biodiesel in the fuel blend, there was an increase in CO, CO2, smoke intensity and exhaust gas temperature, while O2 and NOX emissions were ceased. Keywords: Biodiesel, transesterification, chicken fat, optimization, storage, fuel property, engine performance, exhaust emissions.