Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Article Title: Empirical Models and Rheology of some Basic Properties of Lard Biodiesel and their Blends with Diesel Fuel
by C.B. Ezekannagha, H.O. Nwabueze and J.A. Ekete

Abstract:
The rheology and empirical models for predicting viscosity, density, cloud and pour point of lard biodiesel and its blend with diesel fuel as a function of temperature and biodiesel content was determined. Lard biodiesel was blended with conventional petro diesel in a conical flask using splash blending method with continuous stirring to ensure uniform mixing. Biodiesel was blended with the diesel fuel at a volume basis of 5, 10, 20, 40, and 60% and analyzed at temperatures of 30, 40, 60, 80, and 100oC. Thermodynamic free energies of activation for flow (?Gvis) for the fuel samples were determined. From the results, density and viscosity of the blends decreased with increase in temperature while these properties increased with increase of biodiesel content in the fuel blend. The cloud and the pour point of the blend increased as the biodiesel content increased. The empirical models of the flow properties as a function of temperature and biodiesel content showed a linear relationship for density, while viscosity, pour and cloud points were better fitted to empirical second order polynomial model and the values obtained were in good agreement with the experiments hence, assists ignition engine manufacturers to optimize performance, economy and emissions.

Keywords: Rheology, biodiesel, diesel, empirical models, splash blending, ?Gvis

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