Combustion of rapeseed oil and its blend with alcohol

The interest to renewable energy sources for energy production is not new. The production of biomass is an alternative and relevant solution for using less fossil energy while preserving environment. Several studies have been conducted to qualify various oil and their blends from plants and vegetables as alternative renewable energy source. However, these studies were generally conducted with a test approach, without considering in detail all the aspects related to atomization, thermal stability and combustion characteristics of these fuels. The technical feasibility as a fuel of a typical vegetable oil, the rapeseed oil, has been already studied in heating plants, while the purpose of this study is to obtain more detailed information on the combustion performances of rapeseed oil and its emulsion with 9% ethyl alcohol in a pilot plant in comparison with diesel fuel.