Feasibility of Using Wood Flash-Pyrolysis Oil in Diesel Engines

S. Frigo; R. Gentili; L. Tognotti; S. Zanforlin; G. Benelli

doi:10.4271/982529

1998-10-19

Feasibility of Using Wood Flash-Pyrolysis Oil in Diesel Engines 982529

The paper describes an experimental study concerning the feasibility of using bio-oil obtained from flash pyrolysis of wood for fuelling diesel power plants.

The research is based on various tests aimed at verifying relevant operative characteristics of the fuel: spray analyses, engine tests, thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), single-drop reactor tests and corrosion tests.

The spray analyses show that the achievement of a satisfactory atomisation with flash-pyrolysis oil is problematic.
The engine experimentation shows that flash-pyrolysis oil needs to be modified or mixed (e.g. with alcohol) to make self ignition possible. Besides, unacceptable build-up of carbonaceous deposits, injection system clamping and engine seizure occur.
Very large char generation is the main finding of the tests in the TGA apparatus and in the single-drop atmospheric reactor (“drop-tube”).
The corrosion tests demonstrate that steel undergoes fast erosion by contact of flash-pyrolysis oil.

All these findings show that characteristics of current-production flash-pyrolysis oil are not suited for its utilisation in diesel engines.

SAE MOBILUS

Subscribers can view annotate, and download all of SAE's content. Learn More »

Access SAE MOBILUS »

Digital $37.00 Print $37.00

Preview Document

We also recommend:

Standards

SAE Mobilus®

Publications

News

Events

Professional Development

A World in Motion (PreK-12)

Participate with SAE

SAE Membership

Donate

Feasibility of Using Wood Flash-Pyrolysis Oil in Diesel Engines 982529

SAE MOBILUS