The effects of blending diesel, ethanol, and biodiesel

Abstract

This work investigated the feasibility of using a blend of standard Brazilian diesel (which contains 5% biodiesel) and up to 5% ethanol. The mixture was characterized as fuel and the performance of a diesel engine operating with a blend containing 3% anhydrous ethanol, the maximum percentage of ethanol that did not reduce the cetane number of the fuel below that specified in Brazilian legislation (ANP Resolution 42), was measured. The presence of anhydrous ethanol in the mixture did not cause a significant impact on engine performance as measured by brake power, brake torque, and brake specific fuel consumption tests. The thermal efficiency of the engine used in the tests was slightly higher with standard diesel than with the diesel-biodiesel-ethanol blend