The demand for petroleum has risen rapidly due to increasing industrialization and modernization of the world. This economic development has led to a huge demand for energy, where the major part of that energy is derived from fossil sources such as petroleum, coal and natural gas. However, the limited reserve of fossil fuel has drawn the attention of many researchers to look for alternative fuels which can be produced from renewable feedstock. Biodiesel has become more attractive because of its environmental benefits and it is obtained from renewable resources. There are four primary methods to make biodiesel: blending, microemulsion, pyrolysis and transesterification. The most commonly used method is the transesterification of triglycerides (vegetable oil and animal fats) with alcohol in the presence of a catalyst. There is a growing interest in using Jatropha curcas L. oil as the feedstock for biodiesel production because it is non-edible and thus does not compromise the edible oils, which are mainly used for food consumption. Non-edible oils are not suitable for human consumption because of the presence of toxic components. Further, J. curcas L. seed has a high content of oil and the biodiesel produced has similar properties to that of petroleum-based diesel. In this paper, an attempt has been made to review the different approaches and techniques used to generate biodiesel from Jatropha curcas oil. The main factors affecting the biodiesel yield, for example the molar ratio of alcohol to oil, catalyst concentration, reaction temperature and reaction time are discussed. Lastly, the environmental considerations and economic aspects of biodiesel are also addressed.

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A review of biodiesel production from Jatropha curcas L. oil

Biodiesel has been considering as promising fuel in the situation of ever-depleting fossil fuels and serious environment pollution. Beside clearly known advantages, high viscosity and density, and ...

Prediction of the density and viscosity of biodiesel and the influence of biodiesel properties on a diesel engine fuel supply system

Evaluation of jatropha oil to produce poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) by Cupriavidus necator H16

Jatropha, a non-edible oil seed yielding plant has been identified by the Government of India to produce biodiesel under National Biodiesel Mission. Failure of National Biodiesel Mission Phase-I requires critical analysis of all the possible facts related to its long-term sustainability. Present work identifies important sustainability issues related to promotion of Jatropha biodiesel in India. These sustainability issues have been regrouped in four major categories: technological, environmental, economic and social. This paper attempts to explore various sustainability issues taking into account the recent Indian experiences with possible government support/initiatives for successful adoption of Jatropha biodiesel in Indian scenario.

Sustainability issues for promotion of Jatropha biodiesel in Indian scenario: A review

In this study, clean combustion of straight vegetable oil (VO) is achieved by utilizing a novel flow blurring (FB) fuel injector with superior atomization characteristics. Experiments are conducted in an atmospheric pressure combustor using three different fuels: straight VO, which is fully-refined soybean oil, biodiesel produced from soybean VO, and No. 2 diesel. Combustion performance is assessed by comparing flame images, emissions profiles at the combustor exit plane, and pressure drop in fuel and atomizing air lines. Results show that the FB atomizer can create clean burning spray flames of straight VO without preprocessing and/or preheating. The FB injector produces sprays with smaller diameter fuel droplets to promote combustion in the premixed mode. All fuels resulted in similar CO emissions, while biodiesel flames had the lowest NOX emissions. Pressure drop in the fuel and atomizing air lines was independent of the fuel.

Flow Blurring Atomization for Low-Emission Combustion of Liquid Biofuels

Experiments employing porous sphere technique are carried out to investigate the combustion characteristics of biodiesel produced from karanja oil and its blends with diesel and gasoline. Biodiesel or its blend is transpired to porous sphere surfaces, where it burns. Porous spheres are placed in an air stream blowing with a uniform velocity at atmospheric pressure and temperature under normal gravity conditions. At low air velocities, a flame envelops the entire sphere. Fuel feed rates are recorded for various sphere sizes and air velocities. Overall, the visible flame shape is analyzed with the help of digital flame image. At a particular air velocity, the flame will not envelope the sphere, but establish near the rear region of the sphere and the same is recorded for different sphere sizes. Theoretical correlations are proposed for burning rate as a function of effective Reynolds number and for Damkohler number as a function of Froude number.

S. Rajesh

Papers

Investigation of Combustion Characteristics of Biodiesel and Its Blends

Analysis of quasi-steady combustion of Jatropha bio-diesel

Optimization of contact stress for the high contact ratio spur gears achieved through novel hob cutter