Biodiesel Physical and Chemical Reaction
Biodiesel Physical and Chemical Reaction
(OP)
Recently, there is a trend towards more usage of biodiesel as alternative fuels in place of (or as a mixture to) the traditional petroleum diesels. With petroleum diesel, the reaction going on in the engine is some form of "burning" under high pressure (compression) and temperature. This burning creates gases which expand and provide the power stroke required to move the vehicle/engine.
What about biodiesel? As far as I know, biodiesel is very simply a form of methyl ester (or fatty acid methyl esters). When used in the diesel engine, what is happening on a molecular level? Chemically and physically, what change is the ester going through/.
What about biodiesel? As far as I know, biodiesel is very simply a form of methyl ester (or fatty acid methyl esters). When used in the diesel engine, what is happening on a molecular level? Chemically and physically, what change is the ester going through/.
---engineering your life---
RE: Biodiesel Physical and Chemical Reaction
Google brings plenty of sites on this subject. I just selected two:
www.me
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiesel
RE: Biodiesel Physical and Chemical Reaction
can be used as fuel in an IC engine
1.) if it can be finelly dsitributed so it burns fast enough
2.) if the products of combustion can be easily removed
3.) if it doesn't cause too much corrosion or erosion
The rest is engineering and economics
Plesae read FAQ240-1032
My WEB: <http://geocities.com/nbucska/>
RE: Biodiesel Physical and Chemical Reaction
I'm looking more at what happens at a molecular level when you put the biodiesel into a diesel car/engine (not during manufacture, I already know that part). Physically and chemically, what happens to the biodiesel methyl ester?
---engineering your life---
RE: Biodiesel Physical and Chemical Reaction
HAZOP at www.curryhydrocarbons.ca
RE: Biodiesel Physical and Chemical Reaction
Also, could you elaborate more what happens to the carbon outside of the engine? Thanks.
---engineering your life---
RE: Biodiesel Physical and Chemical Reaction
Apparently the oxygen in the ester molecule faciltates combustion.
RE: Biodiesel Physical and Chemical Reaction
Many of the emissions in diesel smoke (aldehydes, benzene and VOCs) are the result of incomplete combustion of PAHs. The lower molecular weight compounds initially present in the fuel actually burn rather cleanly.
"Technical Report No. 1: Toxic Emissions from Diesel Vehicles in Australia"
http:
There are already EPA restrictions on aromatic content of diesel fuel in California & Texas (maybe nationwide, soon?) and overseas. As sulfur content is mostly attached to the PAHs, the new EPA restriction on sulfur content in diesel (15 ppm) effective Oct. 15, 2006 (already in California), I believe will also lower the PAH content. Although PAHs have a high energy content due to higher C-to-H ratio than say alkanes, energy is wasted if combustion is incomplete.
"Lower Sulphur Diesel - What Does This Mean?"
h
"Effects of Fuels with a Low Aromatic Content on Diesel Engine Exhaust Emissions" [abstract only w/o subscription]
It mentions that "Oxygenated fuels showed lower smoke and NOx emissions."
http://
RE: Biodiesel Physical and Chemical Reaction
RE: Biodiesel Physical and Chemical Reaction
RE: Biodiesel Physical and Chemical Reaction
Good luck.