(649e) Investigation Of The Parameters Affecting Cetane Number Of Biodiesel

Recent concern over the environmental impact of diesel powered vehicles engine exhaust emissions required improvement of engine designs and strict regulations of diesel fuel qualities. Cetane number is one of the most significant properties to specify the ignition quality of compression ignition diesel engines. Diesel fuels having poor Cetane number hence poor ignition quality would results diesel knock, hard starting in cold weather and increased exhaust emissions. Biodiesel derived from various feedstocks has a CN range of 48-67. In this study the Derived Cetane Number (DCN) of several biodiesel, biodiesel components, ULSD and Synthetic fuel S-8 were determined using Ignition Quality Tester (IQT). The IQT provides direct measurements per ASTM D 6890 and IP 498 standard test methods. The device accurately determines the ignition delay of diesel, biodiesel and biodiesel components. The effects of the fatty acid compositions and nature such as unsaturation (Iodine number), aging, peroxide value on Cetane number will be discussed. DCN and other fuel properties such as thermal stability, knock characterization and oxidation stability of ULSD with added commercial Cetane improvers were examined. We will compare ULSD blended with biodiesel components. DCN were determined. These results will contribute to a better understanding of parameters affecting Cetane number.