Correlation between Apparent Activation Energy and NO _x Emission of Renewable Diesel from Sugar Cane, Biodiesel, Fossil Diesel and their Blends 2013-36-0249

Biofuels and their blends with fossil fuel are important energy resources, which production and application have been largely increased internationally. This study focus on the development of a correlation between apparent activation energy (E_a) and NO_x emission of the thermal decomposition of three pure fuels: farnasane (renewable diesel from sugar cane), biodiesel and fossil diesel and their blends. Apparent Activation energy was determined by using thermogravimetry and Model-Free Kinetics. NO_x emission was obtained from the European Stationary Cycle (ESC) with OM 926LA CONAMA P7/Euro 5 engine. Results showed that there is a linear correlation between apparent activation energy and NO_x emission with R² of 0,9667 considering pure fuels and their blends which is given as: NO_x = 2,2514E_a - 96,309. The average absolute error of this correlation is 2.96% with respect to the measured NO_x value. The main advantage of this correlation is its capability to predict NO_x emission when either a new pure fuel or a blend of fuels is proposed to use in enginees.