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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #69153
Title: LOW-TEMPERATURE FILTERABILITY PROPERTIES OF ALTERNATIVE DIESEL FUELS FROM VEGETABLE OILS

Author
item Dunn, Robert
item Bagby, Marvin

Submitted to: Liquid Fuels from Renewable Resources Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/17/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Methyl esters (ME) from veg. oils have many properties that make them attractive as a fuel for combustion in compression ignition (diesel) engines. However, recent research has shown that the issue of cold flow properties should be resolved before ME will be attractive as an alternate fuel in moderate temp. climates. In North America, fuel systems powered by petroleum middle distillates develop operability problems when overnight ambient temps. drop below -15C. In contrast, ME from soybean oil develop similar problems at temps. near 0C. This work examines expected operability limits for ME through evaluation of their low temp. filterabilities. Low-temp. flow test (LTFT) and cold filter plugging point results showed nearly linear dependence with respect to cloud point (CP). Slight improvement in LTFT with respect to CP was observed when ME were treated with "off the shelf" cold flow additives. Results from differential scanning calorimetry melting curves also showed a correlation with CP. Finally, admixtures of up to 30 vol% methyl tallowate-ME in methyl soyate-ME showed no significant deviation with respect to low-temp. filterability or CP.