Journal of Oil Palm Research Vol. 28 (1) March 2016, p. 64-73

COMPATIBILITY OF BIODIESEL FUEL WITH METALS AND ELASTOMERS IN FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM OF A DIESEL ENGINE

DAVANNENDRAN CHANDRAN*; NG HOON KIAT*; HARRISON LAU LIK NANG**; GAN SUYIN*; CHOO, Y M* and SALMAH JAHIS**

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21894/jopr.2016.2801.08
ABSTRACT

This article intends to evaluate available literature findings and determine if they are representative of the actual compatibility between fuel delivery materials (FDM) and biodiesel fuel in the physical system. The study will also evaluate current test standards on their effectiveness of representing the physical fuel delivery system. Although the compatibility of a number of materials with biodiesel fuel has been reported, there is a need to establish the exact materials present in the fuel delivery system. This is especially true for elastomers since their resistance is mainly dependent on their elemental compositions. While typical standards such as the ASTM G31 and ASTM D471 for metals and elastomers, respectively are deemed suitable for evaluating the effects of water content, total acid number and oxidised products in biodiesel on FDM degradation based on laboratory immersion studies, none of these standards resemble the actual engine operating conditions such as varying fuel pressure/temperature as well as presence of a wide range of materials in a typical diesel engine’s fuel delivery system. As such, findings from existing studies so far are inadequate to conclusively determine the compatibility between FDM and biodiesel fuel in the actual fuel delivery system of a diesel engine.

KEYWORDS:


* Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia. E-mail: hoonkiat.ng@nottingham.edu.my

** Malaysian Palm Oil Board, 6 Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.