ABSTRACT Performance and emissions characteristics of a 30 kW gas turbine engine burning Jet A, s... more ABSTRACT Performance and emissions characteristics of a 30 kW gas turbine engine burning Jet A, soy methyl ester, canola methyl ester, recycled rapeseed methyl ester, hog-fat biofuel, and their 50% (volume) blends in Jet A were studied over a range of throttle settings. The addition of biofuel resulted in a reduction in static thrust and thrust-specific fuel consumption, and increased thermal efficiency. The CO and NO emissions from the turbine were reduced with the biofuel blends. The results suggest that an optimum mixture may be found that reduces pollutant emissions while producing the desired thrust. This study demonstrates that biofuels may serve as viable supplements to petroleum-based fuels.
2019 IEEE 2nd International Conference on Renewable Energy and Power Engineering (REPE), 2019
A comparative study of the combustion characteristics of an agricultural diesel engine fuelled wi... more A comparative study of the combustion characteristics of an agricultural diesel engine fuelled with papaya seed oil (PSO) biodiesel and stone fruit kernel oil (SFO) biodiesel along with diesel was performed. A 3.3 L heavy duty tractor diesel engine with four-cylinder 4-stroke, EURO II standard was used for the comparison. Two binary blends of each of the biodiesels were prepared with 10% and 20% by volume, with the remaining volume made up of petro diesel. All fuel samples were tested at 1400 rpm (rated torque) and 2400 rpm (near rated power output) at full engine load condition. The experimental investigations were conducted to evaluate the effects of binary blends on engine combustion characteristics such as in-cylinder pressure, heat release rate, ignition delay, mass fraction burned, and ignition duration. The results show that all PSO biodiesel blends had higher in-cylinder pressure; for instance, PSO20 had 2.4% and 1.4% higher peak pressure compared to diesel and SFO20. Heat release rate (HRR) values of both PSO and SFO biodiesel blends were found lower than diesel due to shorter ignition delay and lower calorific values of the biodiesel. The maximum HRRs at 2400 rpm of PSO10, PSO20, SFO10, and SFO20 were found to be 4.1%, 5.4%, 11.1%, and 11.8% lower than that of diesel. PSO and SFO blends were found to have lower ignition delay period compared with the diesel. Again, both biodiesel blends show faster combustion than diesel. However, SFO20 showed 7.1% and 6.5% slower than PSO20 at 1400 rpm and 2400 rpm respectively. Overall, PSO blends performed better than SFO blends in all combustions.
Agave tequilana is a potential biofuel crop, for which the characters of juice total soluble suga... more Agave tequilana is a potential biofuel crop, for which the characters of juice total soluble sugar content (TSS), dry matter content (DM), cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin content are quality criteria. Spectra of leaves were obtained using a hand-held silicon photodiode array (Si PDA)-based spectrometer with a wavelength range of 300–1100 nm and an InGaAs-based Fourier transform near infrared (FT-NIR) spectrometer with a wavelength range of 1100–2500 nm. Fresh leaves were harvested at different maturity stages, in different seasons and from two locations in Queensland during 2012–2014. Partial least square regression models were developed for DM and TSS of fresh leaf, and for cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin of dried material, with models tested on populations of independent samples collected in different years, seasons and locations. Prediction statistics for DM of fresh leaf using the Si PDA spectrometer (729–975 nm) were r2 = 0.49–0.87 and root mean square error of predicti...
Irrigation is a preferred option for effluent disposal and is adopted by many city and shire coun... more Irrigation is a preferred option for effluent disposal and is adopted by many city and shire councils. Although, this water is most often used to irrigate playgrounds, bowling clubs, race-courses, golf courses and common areas, establishing dedicated plantations to dispose of wastewater is becoming popular. Very few studies have examined the long-term effects of this use, and those that have been done indicate that it is necessary to take precautions to ensure its sustainability. With sound irrigation management, which includes understanding plant growth, soil properties, climatic factors and local cultural practice, wastewater can be used in an environmentally friendly manner. Research at Central Queensland University (CQU) has provided guidelines for environmentally friendly disposal of wastewater. Current season data is still being analysed but preliminary results indicate that irrigation management is definitely the key factor for maintaining ecological sustainability of effluent irrigated sites
ABSTRACT Performance and emissions characteristics of a 30 kW gas turbine engine burning Jet A, s... more ABSTRACT Performance and emissions characteristics of a 30 kW gas turbine engine burning Jet A, soy methyl ester, canola methyl ester, recycled rapeseed methyl ester, hog-fat biofuel, and their 50% (volume) blends in Jet A were studied over a range of throttle settings. The addition of biofuel resulted in a reduction in static thrust and thrust-specific fuel consumption, and increased thermal efficiency. The CO and NO emissions from the turbine were reduced with the biofuel blends. The results suggest that an optimum mixture may be found that reduces pollutant emissions while producing the desired thrust. This study demonstrates that biofuels may serve as viable supplements to petroleum-based fuels.
2019 IEEE 2nd International Conference on Renewable Energy and Power Engineering (REPE), 2019
A comparative study of the combustion characteristics of an agricultural diesel engine fuelled wi... more A comparative study of the combustion characteristics of an agricultural diesel engine fuelled with papaya seed oil (PSO) biodiesel and stone fruit kernel oil (SFO) biodiesel along with diesel was performed. A 3.3 L heavy duty tractor diesel engine with four-cylinder 4-stroke, EURO II standard was used for the comparison. Two binary blends of each of the biodiesels were prepared with 10% and 20% by volume, with the remaining volume made up of petro diesel. All fuel samples were tested at 1400 rpm (rated torque) and 2400 rpm (near rated power output) at full engine load condition. The experimental investigations were conducted to evaluate the effects of binary blends on engine combustion characteristics such as in-cylinder pressure, heat release rate, ignition delay, mass fraction burned, and ignition duration. The results show that all PSO biodiesel blends had higher in-cylinder pressure; for instance, PSO20 had 2.4% and 1.4% higher peak pressure compared to diesel and SFO20. Heat release rate (HRR) values of both PSO and SFO biodiesel blends were found lower than diesel due to shorter ignition delay and lower calorific values of the biodiesel. The maximum HRRs at 2400 rpm of PSO10, PSO20, SFO10, and SFO20 were found to be 4.1%, 5.4%, 11.1%, and 11.8% lower than that of diesel. PSO and SFO blends were found to have lower ignition delay period compared with the diesel. Again, both biodiesel blends show faster combustion than diesel. However, SFO20 showed 7.1% and 6.5% slower than PSO20 at 1400 rpm and 2400 rpm respectively. Overall, PSO blends performed better than SFO blends in all combustions.
Agave tequilana is a potential biofuel crop, for which the characters of juice total soluble suga... more Agave tequilana is a potential biofuel crop, for which the characters of juice total soluble sugar content (TSS), dry matter content (DM), cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin content are quality criteria. Spectra of leaves were obtained using a hand-held silicon photodiode array (Si PDA)-based spectrometer with a wavelength range of 300–1100 nm and an InGaAs-based Fourier transform near infrared (FT-NIR) spectrometer with a wavelength range of 1100–2500 nm. Fresh leaves were harvested at different maturity stages, in different seasons and from two locations in Queensland during 2012–2014. Partial least square regression models were developed for DM and TSS of fresh leaf, and for cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin of dried material, with models tested on populations of independent samples collected in different years, seasons and locations. Prediction statistics for DM of fresh leaf using the Si PDA spectrometer (729–975 nm) were r2 = 0.49–0.87 and root mean square error of predicti...
Irrigation is a preferred option for effluent disposal and is adopted by many city and shire coun... more Irrigation is a preferred option for effluent disposal and is adopted by many city and shire councils. Although, this water is most often used to irrigate playgrounds, bowling clubs, race-courses, golf courses and common areas, establishing dedicated plantations to dispose of wastewater is becoming popular. Very few studies have examined the long-term effects of this use, and those that have been done indicate that it is necessary to take precautions to ensure its sustainability. With sound irrigation management, which includes understanding plant growth, soil properties, climatic factors and local cultural practice, wastewater can be used in an environmentally friendly manner. Research at Central Queensland University (CQU) has provided guidelines for environmentally friendly disposal of wastewater. Current season data is still being analysed but preliminary results indicate that irrigation management is definitely the key factor for maintaining ecological sustainability of effluent irrigated sites
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