Experimental Study on the Potential Application of Cottonseed Oil–Diesel Blends as Fuels for Automotive Diesel Engines

This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the direct application of cottonseed oil–diesel blends as fuel for diesel engine vehicles without using additional retrofit mechanical systems. The use of biofuels is one of the main actions promoted by the European Union and member states in an effort to tackle global warming, enhance energy security and contribute to regional development. Here, the possibility to blend cottonseed oil directly with fossil diesel as a fuel for diesel engines is examined. This option has lower cost and larger well-to-wheel greenhouse gas benefits than fatty acid methylesters. The paper presents measurements of important fuel properties, density, viscosity, cetane number and cold flow characteristics. In addition, a common rail Euro 3 compliant diesel car is tested using 10% v/v cottonseed oil–diesel blends in order to examine the effects on performance and emissions of regulated pollutants and CO2. Furthermore, particle emission characteristics are studied, including total and solid particle number concentrations and particle size distributions over driving cycles and steady state modes. The results indicate that the test fuel presents good operating characteristics and limited effects on regulated emissions and vehicle performance. These results would justify further research on the direct use of vegetable oils as automotive fuels.