Biodiesel production from Cynara cardunculus L. and Brassica carinata A. Braun seeds and their suitability as fuels in compression ignition engines

Abstract

The development of energy crops can provide environmental benefits and may represent an opportunity to improve agriculture in areas considered at low productivity. In this work, we studied the energy potential of two species (Brassica carinata A. Braun and Cynara cardunculus L.) and their seed oil productivity under different growth conditions. Furthermore, the biodiesel from the oil extracted from the seeds of these species was produced and analysed in term of utilisation as fuels in compression ignition engines. In particular, the spray penetration and shape ratio were measured in a constant-volume chamber and compared with the results obtained with a standard diesel fuel. These results were obtained using a standard common rail injection system at different injection pressure, injection duration, and constant-volume chamber pressure.

Morphological analysis of injected sprays of different bio-diesel fuels by using a common rail setup controlled by a programmable electronic system

“…As found in the performed experimental tests, biodiesel fuels, being characterised by a slightly greater density and viscosity than petroleum diesel, reach a higher penetration inside the velocimetric chamber. On the contrary, the obtained penetration features, as reported in De Domenico et al [23], are slightly different (i.e. standard diesel fuel and Cardoon with a slightly higher spray penetration compared to the Brassica one), but using B100 biofuels differently from the B20 fuel blends used in this work, as discussed in the introduction.…”

“…A morphological analysis of different biofuels has been performed comparing it with that related to conventional diesel; the obtained results show a deeper penetration for biodiesel fuels than conventional diesel. In fact, as confirmed by other studies, due to a weak vaporisation with a consequent formation of drops with larger diameter, the sprays penetration for biodiesel fuels reaches higher values than conventional diesel [22], [23]. The proper functioning of the realised programmable electronic system was tested, promoting it as a good candidate to be used for diesel injectors in test benches in which the injection parameters have to be changed.…”

“…Furthermore, the by-product resulting from Cynara cardunculus bio-liquids, i.e. the lignin, can replace carbon and thus also contributes to the energy needs from biomass [23]. The employment of pure vegetable oils in the internal combustion engine can lead to engine operating problems caused mainly by the higher viscosity of vegetable oils than conventional diesel fuels.…”

Comparative Farm-Gate Life Cycle Assessment of Oilseed Feedstocks in the Northern Great Plains

“…The acidic profile of carinata oil has a high erucic acid (C 22 :1) content which provides desirable biofuel characteristics (Bouaid et al 2009;De Domenico et al 2016). Carinata is currently under consideration as a pathway for renewable fuel under the US RFS program 40 CFR Part 80: Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives, Subpart K and M.…”