Performance analysis of a mono-cylinder diesel engine using soy straight vegetable oil as fuel with varying temperature and injection angle

Experimental results are presented for a compression ignition engine with one cylinder refrigerated by air, fueled with soy straight vegetable oil (SVO), filtered at 500 nm and blended with diesel at volume percentages of 10, 30, 50, 70 and 100%. Performance tests varying the injection angle and the fuel temperature were conducted. The results show an increase in torque and power compared to pure diesel, especially with the SVO50 and SVO70 mixtures. However, there was an increase in the specific consumption, although engine efficiency was only slightly lower due to the lower heating value of oil. The use of SVO as fuel is feasible, but durability tests must be performed, mainly to discover potential maintenance problems.

► Small Diesel cycle engines working with straight vegetable oil (SVO) are tested. ► Tests were carried out varying the fuel temperature and the end of injection angle. ► The highest torque and power resulted from blends of SVO70 (70% VO + 30% Diesel). ► The lowest smoke index was obtained for pure heated SVO. ► Injection delay and heated blends with low SVO content lead to the greatest thermal efficiency.