THE EFFECT OF BIODIESEL FUEL FROM RUBBER (HEVEA BRASILIENSIS) SEED OIL ON A DIRECT INJECTION (DI) DIESEL ENGINE

Abstract

The extensive biodiversity of ASEAN countries includes many plants producing fatty-oils with yield potentials sufficient for biodiesel production. Seed of the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) is perhaps one with significant potential because of the extensive areas of rubber plantations within ASEAN. Rubber seed oil is virtually unexploited commercially, probably because it is non-edible. Consequently, it has the potential to replace/substitute for edible oils such as palm oil, coconut oil, etc. as a raw material for biodiesel during periods of high food sector demand. Currently, the main product of the rubber tree is rubber milk, the raw material for latex and rubber industries. Rubber seed is a byproduct. The kernels constitute 50 to 60% of the seed and contain 40 to 50% brown oil. In this study, the engine test bed procedure for testing coking of DI diesel engine injector nozzles was utilized to examine the effect of using neat Rubber seed oil biodiesel (RSB), and blends with diesel oil as fuel. The effect of the fuels on engine components and exhaust gas emissions such as Hydrocarbon (HC), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Smoke and Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC) was investigated. The performance and emissions of B5 fuel was comparable with diesel fuel; the use of B100 resulted in significantly higher BSFC (23%); higher emissions (20.83% CO, 27.78% THC, 20.80% opacity before commencement of the endurance test, 13.73% CO, 5.79% THC, 33.33% opacity after endurance test). Pure RSB and B5 reduced deposits on the cylinder head (38.74% and 35.82% respectively) but RSB increased deposits on the piston (37.42%).