Oxidation of Biodiesel – Mechanisms of Oxidation, Limitations on the Utilization in ICEs and Countermeasures (Poster Presentation)

Authors

Dr. techn. L. Möltner, L. Konstantinoff MSc, M. Buchacher BSc, V. Schallhart MSc, Management Center Innsbruck; C. Rossboth, H. Gruber MSc, Vienna University of Technology; M. Gwercher MSc, Ingenieurbüro Gwercher, Brixlegg

Year

2017

Print Info

Fortschritt-Berichte VDI, Series 12, No 802

Summary

Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) is the most frequently used substituent in Europe to fulfill the legally obliged addition of biofuels to fossil diesel. However, due to the chemical structure of FAME, the storage stability is limited and oxidation reactions can occur under certain circumstances, which can cause difficulties in engine application. In the course of these research activities, a new reaction path for the oxidation of FAME was found and experimentally validated as an alternative to the stated reaction mechanism found in the literature. Furthermore, the influence of aged FAME to the chemical and physical properties of fuel blends, the spray behavior during injection, the engine combustion including endurance tests, the exhaust gas recirculation compatibility, the emission behavior and the engine oil dilution was investigated. Finally, possibilities for the inhibition of oxidation reactions of FAME were successfully developed with the aid of phenolic additives to prevent the premature degeneration of the biofuel and the involved negative impacts on the utilization in internal combustion engines.