The use of waste transformer oil as alternative fuel in a diesel power generator

Year 2019, Volume: 8 Issue: 3, 117 - 124, 31.10.2019

Abdulkerim Yıldız , Şehmus Altun

https://doi.org/10.18245/ijaet.564043

Cited By: 4

Abstract

In this study, waste
transformer oil (WTO) was investigated as a fuel candidate for a diesel power
generator set in terms of its fuel and combustion characteristics. Kinematic
viscosity, which is the most restrictive property of WTO (9.6 mm²/s
at 40 ^oC), was measured on different blends with a conventional
diesel fuel (in 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100% by volume) in order
to detect the suitable blending ratio to be used in engine without any
modification, and to propose some blending strategies to optimize engine
performance and emissions. The blended fuels containing WTO up to 50% with
diesel by volume were found to have a viscosity which is within standard value
specified for conventional diesel fuels, i.e., 2.0-4.5 mm²/s in
EN590, and in case 60% WTO, it agrees with EN14214 (3.5-5.0 mm²/s)
alternative diesel fuel standards. It is also found that a fuel blend
containing 20% WTO and 80% diesel have a kinematic viscosity and density which
are very close to conventional diesel’ values. Therefore, WTO was blended with
diesel at the rate of 20% by volume and then tested in a 4-stroke and
4-cylinder diesel engine powered generator set under constant speed-variable
load conditions. Measured and calculated results were compared with the results
of conventional diesel tested under the same conditions. Experimental results
showed that specific fuel consumption, NO_x and unburned HC emissions
reduced when using blended fuel instead of conventional diesel. Cylinder gas
pressure was higher for blended fuels than that of conventional diesel while
the start of combustion was later in the case of blended fuels.

Keywords

Waste transformer oil, Alternative fuels, Diesel generator, Emissions

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