Crude soybean oil is one of the vegetable oils that have potential for use as fuel for diesel engines. Soybean oil is renewable, and is safe and easy to handle. At room temperature crude oil has a viscosity about ten times higher than that of diesel oil. To lower soybean oil's viscosity to the acceptable levels a heating temperature at least 60°C is needed or blending with diesel fuel. The objective of this study was evaluating the soybean oil and blends performance as a fuel for diesel engines. On both crude soybean oil and soybean oil blends were used pre-heating temperature levels on the range between 57°C and 68°C, before fuel pump. The performance of the fuel blends were evaluated in a single cylinder indirect injection diesel engine and compared with the performance with diesel fuel. Engine tests (short term) were conducted at a range speed from 1800 to 2800rpm under full load conditions on hydraulic absorption brake. The tests performed at 68°C showed always the best values of torque, power and specific fuel consumption that the tests at 57°C. The best experiment results were obtained with the blend containing 70% soybean oil and 30% diesel fuel, heated at 68°C.
biofuels; diesel engines; alternative fuels; pre-heating
