Renewable Energy Laboratory Development for Biofuels Advanced Combustion Studies

The research advanced fundamental science and applied engineering for increasing the efficiency of internal combustion engines and meeting emissions regulations with biofuels. The project developed a laboratory with new experiments and allowed investigation of new fuels and their combustion and emissions. This project supports a sustainable domestic biofuels and automotive industry creating economic opportunities across the nation, reducing the dependence on foreign oil, and enhancing U.S. energy security. The one year period of research developed fundamental knowledge and applied technology in advanced combustion, emissions and biofuels formulation to increase vehicle's efficiency. Biofuelsâ combustion was investigated in a Compression Ignition Direct Injection (DI) to develop idling strategies with biofuels and an Indirect Diesel Injection (IDI) intended for auxiliary power unit

Peanut Based Biodiesel Production in Georgia: An Economic Feasibility Study

An increased emphasis on renewable energy in recent years stems from diminishing supplies of fossil fuels. Add to that an ever-increasing global demand for energy and the conditions for a sustained push towards alternative, renewable forms of energy are clearly present. Biodiesel can be regarded as one such source of alternate energy. It is a renewable diesel fuel substitute that can be manufactured from a variety of naturally occurring oils and fats, primarily through the process of trans-esterification. Peanuts constitute one of the main sources of biodiesel. From the national perspective, Georgia is leading state in the country for producing peanuts.  It accounts for approximately 45 percent of the crop's national acreage and production. Last year Georgia farmers harvested 755,000 acres of peanuts, for a yield of 2.2 billion pounds (EPA, 2010). Southern Georgia is the most productive region due to its coastal plain region, which runs from Columbus through Macon to Augusta. However, for mainstream adoption of biodiesel to be successful, the economic case for production needs to be examined carefully. This paper analyzes and presents the economic feasibility of biodiesel production, with a focus on southeast Georgia

Economic Impact and Obstacles to Mainstream Biodiesel Integration

Active research is being conducted to enable the integration of an alternate energy sources so as to replace petroleum based fuels. However, this research has been confined primarily within the auspices of a research laboratory. Of the various alternate energy source available today, biodiesel constitutes perhaps the most dominant and promising alternate energy source. A comprehensive analysis of the processes and effects involved with its integration would need to be conducted before said transition could occur as efficiently and as seamlessly as possible. These processes can recognize the mass appeal of biodiesel and its viability as a dominant energy source. This information can be used to develop a comprehensive methodology to achieve large-scale transfer of technology from the laboratory to the marketplace. Such a methodology needs to take into account the technological characteristics of the fuel production process, environmental effects of biodiesel emissions, and economic factors integral to the biodiesel supply chain. It is essential to analyze the characteristics and effects of this integration in order to successfully achieve the cost effective integration of this alternate fuel source into the marketplace. The aforementioned analysis would serve as a stepping stone or a foundation block to enable future research. This paper presents an overview of current practices and state of the art research focusing on integration of biodiesel into a mainstream marketplace

Jet-Impingement Effects of Alumina-Nanofluid on Aluminum and Copper

Nanofluids are nanosize-powder suspensions that are of interest for their enhanced thermal transport properties. They are studied as promising alternatives to ordinary cooling fluids, but the tribiological effects of nanofluids on cooling-system materials are largely unknown. The authors have developed methodology that uses jet impingement on typical cooling-system materials to test such effects. The work is presented of the authors’ research on the interactions of a typical nanofluid (2% volume of alumina nanopowders in a solution of ethylene glycol in water) which is impinged on aluminum and copper specimens for tests as long as 112 hours. The surface changes were assessed by roughness measurements and optical-microscope studies. Comparative roughness indicate that both the reference cooling fluid of ethylene glycol and water and its nanofluid with 2% alumina produce roughness changes in aluminum (even for the shortest 3-hour test), but no significant roughness differences were observed between them. No significant roughness changes were observed for copper. Microscopy observations, however, show different surface modifications in both aluminum and copper by both the nanofluid and its base fluid. The possible mechanisms of early erosion are discussed. These investigations demonstrate suitable methods for the testing of nanofluid effects on cooling system-materials

Renewable Energy Laboratory Development for Biofuels Advanced Combustion Studies

The research advanced fundamental science and applied engineering for increasing the efficiency of internal combustion engines and meeting emissions regulations with biofuels. The project developed a laboratory with new experiments and allowed investigation of new fuels and their combustion and emissions. This project supports a sustainable domestic biofuels and automotive industry creating economic opportunities across the nation, reducing the dependence on foreign oil, and enhancing U.S. energy security. The one year period of research developed fundamental knowledge and applied technology in advanced combustion, emissions and biofuels formulation to increase vehicle's efficiency. Biofuelsâ combustion was investigated in a Compression Ignition Direct Injection (DI) to develop idling strategies with biofuels and an Indirect Diesel Injection (IDI) intended for auxiliary power unit

Aircraft Gas Turbine Noise Reduction Utilizing New Synthetic Fuels and Sound Insulation Materials

The need to reduce the sound and vibration characteristics in the aerospace industry is continuously increasing because of the need to meet FAA regulations, to reduce noise pollution, and to improve customer satisfaction. To improve customer satisfaction, aircraft and engine manufacturers must work to control sound and vibration levels so that passengers do not experience discomfort during a flight. Sound and vibration characteristics of a fixed-wing aircraft with jet engines are composed of complex-frequency contents that challenge engineers in the development of quiet engine designs, aerodynamic bodies, and advanced sound- and vibration-attenuating materials. One of the noisiest parts of an aircraft, the gas turbine, was analyzed in this research. In Part 1 of this project, the use of alternative fuels in a gas turbine engine was investigated to determine whether those fuels have negative effects on sound and vibration levels. Three types of fuels were used: Jet A as the reference fuel, natural gas–derived S-8, and coal-derived isoparaffinic kerosene (IPK). The alternative fuels, S-8 and IPK, are Fischer–Tropsch process fuels. Overall sound and vibration characteristics of the alternative fuels presented a similar pattern across the frequency spectrum to those of the reference fuel, with the alternative fuels being slightly quieter. In Part 2, the sound path was treated by introducing sound-absorbing materials and investigating their acoustic performance. A melamine-based foam and soy-based foam were used in this research. Melamine is very lightweight, has excellent thermal endurance, and is hydrophobic. The soy-based foam was selected for its potential application in the aerospace industry to work toward a greener aircraft, in an effort to promote environmental sustainability. The soy-based material reduced the sound level by more than 20 dB(A) and presented better performance than the melamine at high frequencies

Performance of a Direct Injection Diesel Engine Fueled by a Heavy Oil with the Addiction of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Polymer

Considering the escalating cost of fossil fuels in correlation with the growing influence of sustainability, the need to seek new alternative fuels is increasing rapidly. This movement has lead researchers to look beyond the usual alternative fuels and focus on plastics as an energy resource in the form of a low density polyethylene (LDPE) used throughout the global community. The authors investigated the injection and combustion of a new class of polymer fuel containing 5% LDPE by weight in a heavy fuel oil (AHFO) in a direct injection diesel engine, in order to evaluate its effectiveness for application as a new alternative fuel. The analysis occurred at 1200 rpm, under loads that ranged from BMEP 1.4-6.04 bar. In order to maintain the fuel’s viscosity around 20 cSt the fuel was heated at 130-150 °C. The smoke (bosch) and emission analysis were also performed and provided promising results in terms of engine performance. This suggests that the feedstock of LDPE may be a viable substitute for AHFO for application in a diesel engine with the addressing of the technical challenges associated with the injection system operation

Performance of an IDI Engine Fueled with Fatty Acid Methyl Esters Formulated from Cotton Seeds Oils

This paper was published in the SAE 2015 World Congress & Exhibition

Tribological Aspects of a Diesel Injector Operation with Charcoal-Oil Slurries

This paper was published in the Proc. of STLE 2009 Annual Meeting

Investigation of RCCI Combustion with PFI of n-butanol and DI-ULSD compared with Binary Mixtures in an Omnivorous Diesel Engine

This paper was published in the SAE 2015 World Congress & Exhibition