Journal article
Droplet-Scale Combustion Analysis of Third-Generation Biodiesel–Diesel Blends
Energies (Basel), Vol.18(7), 1692
03/28/2025
DOI: 10.3390/en18071692
Abstract
Biodiesel derived from waste cooking oil (WCO) and animal fats is a promising alternative to fossil fuels, offering environmental benefits and renewable energy potential. However, a detailed understanding of its combustion characteristics at the droplet scale is essential for optimizing its practical application. This study investigates the combustion behavior of biodiesel–diesel blends (B5, B10, B15, B20, B25, B50, B75) and neat fuels (B0 and B100) by analyzing combustion rates, pre-ignition time, burning time, droplet morphology, and puffing characteristics. The results demonstrate that biodiesel concentration strongly influences combustion dynamics. Higher blends (B50, B75) exhibit enhanced steady combustion rates due to increased oxygen availability, while lower blends (B5–B25) experience stronger puffing events, leading to greater secondary droplet formation. The global combustion rate follows a non-linear trend, peaking at B10, decreasing at B25, and rising again at B50 and B75. Pre-ignition time increases with biodiesel content, while burning time exhibits an inverse relationship with combustion rate. Four distinct puffing mechanisms were identified, with lower blends producing finer secondary droplets and higher blends forming larger droplets. Puffing characteristics were evaluated based on puffing occurrences, intensity, and effectiveness, revealing that puffing peaks at B25 in occurrence and at B10 in intensity, while higher blends (B50, B75) exhibit notable puffing effectiveness. This study addresses a critical research gap in droplet-scale combustion of WCO and animal fat-derived biodiesel across a wide range of blend ratios (B5–B75). The findings provide key insights for optimizing biodiesel formulations to improve fuel spray atomization, ignition stability, and combustion efficiency in spray-based combustion systems, such as diesel engines, gas turbines, and industrial burners, bridging fundamental research with real-world applications.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Droplet-Scale Combustion Analysis of Third-Generation Biodiesel–Diesel Blends
- Creators
- A. S. M. Sazzad ParvegAlbert Ratner
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Energies (Basel), Vol.18(7), 1692
- DOI
- 10.3390/en18071692
- ISSN
- 1996-1073
- eISSN
- 1996-1073
- Publisher
- MDPI; BASEL
- Grant note
- U.S. Department of Transportation's University Transportation Centers ProgramMid-America Transportation CenterKBIH Foundation
This research was supported by the Mid-America Transportation Center through a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation's University Transportation Centers Program (Grant No. 69A3551747107) and partially funded by the KBIH Foundation. The authors gratefully acknowledge this support and extend their appreciation to Iowa Renewable Energy (IRE), LLC, for generously providing the biodiesel used in this study.
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/28/2025
- Academic Unit
- Iowa Technology Institute; Mechanical Engineering
- Record Identifier
- 9984804807902771
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