Project Overview
Annual Reports
Information Products
Commodities
- Agronomic: canola, corn, rapeseed, soybeans
Practices
- Energy: bioenergy and biofuels, energy use
Proposal abstract:
Biodiesel and bioethanol are produced from renewable energy sources. Bioethanol is blended with diesel and biodiesel fuels because of its low energy content, low viscosity and low lubricity effect. The development of an optimal blend formulation is important for enhancing biofuel storage stability, reducing exhaust emissions and improving combustion efficiency. The purpose of this project is to investigate the effects of various biofuel blend formulations containing biodiesel, bioethanol and diesel fuel on combustion efficiency and exhaust emissions using a small-scale, fully automated modern diesel engine. Statistical methods will be used to develop an optimal biofuel blend formulation. A biofuel test stand equipped with a modern diesel engine will be used for ease of testing. Five to seven producers who produce their own biofuels will be invited to use the equipment with the intent to gain an understanding and experience and how biofuel blend formulation methods and biofuel blends effect combustion efficiency and exhaust emission characteristics.
Project objectives from proposal:
The overall goal of this project is to develop a methodology to prepare biofuel blends and investigate the combustion efficiency and exhaust emission characteristics of the blends containing bioethanol, biodiesel and diesel fuels. The specific objectives are:
1- To develop an automated, small-engine test-stand for testing the combustion efficiency and exhaust emission characteristics of experimental fuels.
2- To integrate and test the engine dynamometer, fuel consumption sensor, exhaust emission sensors to a data acquisition system.
3- To conduct the biofuel tests and collect data and create a list of producers making their own biofuel and test their product on a modern diesel engine.
4- To produce biofuel blend formulations and demonstrate the developed methods to educate the producers.
5- To provide an automated, small-engine test stand for use by producers to test their own biofuel blends to determine how well they perform in modern engines and to test their exhaust emissions.
After completion of the project, the equipment will be used to educate and train agricultural extension staff, University of Missouri students, and producers. All results and information gained from the project will be written in a draft format as educational materials to teach producers how to make and test their own biofuels. An extension guide sheet on the preparation of biofuel blend formulations will be prepared. Results of the study will be presented to county extension specialists and farmers as requested.