Combustion characteristics of an agricultural diesel engine using biodiesel fuel

Biodiesel has great potential as an alternative fuel for diesel engines that would reduce air pollution. It is a domestically produced, renewable fuel that can be manufactured from fresh or used vegetable oils, or from animal fats. In this study, a biodiesel fuel derived from rice bran oil was tested as an alternative fuel for agricultural diesel engines. The emissions were characterized for both neat and blended biodiesel fuels, and for conventional diesel fuel. Since this biodiesel fuel contained 11% oxygen, it strongly influenced the combustion process. The use of biodiesel fuel resulted in lower carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and smoke emissions, without any increase in nitrous oxide emissions. The study demonstrated that biodiesel fuel could be effectively used as a renewable and environmentally innocuous fuel for agricultural diesel engines.