Experimental Study on Biodiesel Production Parameter Optimization of Jatropha–Algae Oil Mixtures and Performance and Emission Analysis of a Diesel Engine Coupled with a Generator Fueled with Diesel/Biodiesel Blends

摘要

Methyl ester production from jatropha–algae oil is conducted through a transesterification process. Consequences of four parameters, the molar ratio (oil:methanol), the reaction temperature, the amount of catalyst, and the reaction time for obtaining a higher yield of biodiesel, are derived, and the process was optimized using the response surface methodology based on the Box–Behnken Design. An optimized biodiesel yield of 96% is achieved at a molar ratio of 1:10, a reaction temperature of 53° C, a 0.3 wt% catalyst, and a reaction time of 172 min. The predicted optimal conditions were experimentally validated with a relative error of 4% of the experimental result (96%). The P value of ANOVA is <0.0001, which shows that the model is significant. Finally, the performance and emissions in a diesel engine coupled with an electricity generator powered by biodiesel blends (B0, B5, B10, and B20% vol.) were investigated, concluding a significant reduction of exhaust gases. The engine was run with numerous blends of biodiesel by changing the brake power from 0 load to 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 KW.