Investigation of engine performance of waste cooking oil as a fuel in diesel tractor engines

Abstract

In this study; the availability of waste cooking oil (WCO) is experimentally examined whether it can be used as an alternative fuel in 3-cylinder, 4-stroke, direct injection and 48 kW power tractor engine. Test engine is operated at full load conditions by using diesel fuel and waste vegetable oil from 2400 to 1100 cycle and performance values are recorded. Tests are performed in two stages in order to evaluate the effect of the waste oils on engine life cycle. When the test engine is operated with diesel fuel and waste cooking oil; engine torque has decreased between 0,09 % and 3 % according to the cycle and average smoke opacity ratio has remained at the same ratios. However in the tests performed at the end of 100-hour operation; while no significant difference occurs in the diesel fuel, significant reduction is seen in the engine torque of WCO between 4,21 % and 14,48 % according to the cycle and an increase in average smoke opacity ratio is seen. The results obtained from the studies, it is determined that the engine performance values of waste cooking oil show similar properties with the diesel fuel but in long-term usage, performance losses have increased.