An Attempt to Use Waste Edible Oil-Kerosene Mixture in Diesel Engine

A feasibility study was made on the use of the waste edible oil used for cooking as an alternative fuel for diesel engines. If the waste edible oil is proved to be of use in diesel engines, the consumption of the fossil fuel would be reduced. In the experiment described in this paper, kerosene was mixed with the waste edible oil in order to improve some of the characteristics of the vegetable oil. The mixing ratios were varied from 20 to 80% in weight. The lower calorific value, density, surface tension and kinematic viscosity of the waste edible oil-kerosene mixture were measured. It was found that the mixing of kerosene improved the thermophysical properties of the waste edible oil. In addition, the ignition temperature and the ignition lag were measured and found to be improved by mixing kerosene more than 60% in weight with the waste edible oil. Finally the waste edible oil-kerosene mixture was burned in a conventional 273-cc diesel engine. Although the thermal efficiency was a little lower, the smoke level in the exhaust gas was confirmed to be almost the same level as the gas oil.