The Impact Biodiesel Blend Levels Have on Engine Performance 2008-01-2610

FPInnovations investigated the impact of different diesel/biodiesel blend ratios on engine performance, exhaust emissions, and fuel consumption. A CAT 3406E engine was used for this evaluation. The objective was to give those considering using biodiesel in their operations a reference of how their equipment would perform with different biodiesel blends.

Testing was conducted in January and February 2008 in Vancouver, B.C. at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, Heavy Equipment Group Campus. The following blend levels were tested: 100% diesel (typical winter diesel for the local area), B10, B20, B30, B40, B50, and B100. The biodiesel fuel used for this study met ASTM D6751 specifications and was made from virgin canola feedstock provided by Milligan Bio-Tech of Foam Lake, Sask. An engine dynamometer was used to run the engine through a series of duty cycles with the different fuel blends. A minimum of three runs were required for each of the blends, with the fuel consumption varying no more than 2% between the runs. Exhaust emissions measurements (NOx, CO2, O2, CO, and SO2) were recorded at one-second intervals. This paper reports the findings of this study.