Biodiesel production from coconut waste cooking oil using novel solar powered rotating flask oscillatory flow reactor and its utilization in diesel engine

Biodiesel production by transesterification reaction is usually carried out using a stirred tank reactor, which is having ineffective mixing of reactants and consumes electrical energy. In the present work, a novel solar-powered rotating flask oscillatory flow reactor was developed and fabricated to produce biodiesel from coco-nut waste cooking oil. The new reactor was observed to be with biodiesel yield of 93.72% by 30 min without any expenditure of non-renewable energy. The different properties of the biodiesel produced were found to be comparable with that of diesel. The diesel engine performance, combustion, and emission analysis were then performed using B20 blend of coconut waste cooking oil biodiesel and diesel. A slight reduction of 0.57% in brake thermal efficiency was noticed for the engine running with blended biodiesel compared to diesel operation. At the rated load of the engine, a reduction of peak HRR by 13.897 J/deg, reduction of CO emission by 0.02%, HC emission by 7 ppm, smoke opacity by 15.6%, and NOx emission by 6 ppm were noticed with blended fuel compared to diesel operation.

Automated summary

A new solar-powered rotating flask oscillatory flow reactor was developed to produce biodiesel from coconut waste cooking oil, achieving a biodiesel yield of 93.72% in just 30 minutes without using non-renewable energy. The properties of the biodiesel produced were comparable to diesel. Engine performance analysis showed a slight reduction in efficiency and emissions with the use of blended biodiesel compared to pure diesel operation.