Performance and Emission Characteristics of Rice Bran Oil in an Oil Burner

Abstract

The fossil fuels have been the most practical way to produce energy for industries, vehicles and homes due to their lower prices, good combustion properties and their availability compared to other types of fuels. However, in this era of modernization, one of the biggest challenges of humanity is depletion of fossil fuels may result the increasing of the price. Studies have found out that it is possible to improve physical and chemical characteristics of alternative fuel based biodiesel by using the transesterification process and hence act as an alternative to mineral diesel. Therefore, the study about the potentiality of the rice bran oil as biodiesel feedstock is explained in this paper. The aim of this study is determining the performance and emission characteristics of the rice bran oil biodiesel (RBOBD). In addition, the comparison is made for its combustion and emission characteristics to those of conventional diesel fuel (CDF). Results show that RBOBD is very good at minimizing emissions, especially CO and SO2 with the value 60 ppm and 10 ppm, respectively. The establish information may help Malaysia to recognize the potentiality of the rice bran oil in order to replace the conventional fuel in the future.