Analysis of Diesel Engine Performance Utilizing Glycerolysis Biodiesel Produced From High Free Fatty Acid CPO

Low-cost feedstocks represent a strategic choice in biodiesel production to reduce costs and optimize the utilization of available resources. One such option is the use of low-quality feedstocks with relatively low prices but high free fatty acid (FFA) content, which necessitates a glycerolysis process to produce biodiesel that meets quality standards. This study aims to evaluate the effect of glycerol addition as an agent for reducing free fatty acid (FFA) content on diesel engine performance by comparing it with biodiesel produced without glycerol addition. Biodiesel quality and diesel engine performance were evaluated at various glycerol glycerol to oil mass ratio. The results demonstrate that glycerol addition significantly affects engine performance, with maximum torque reaching 588 Nm at 1799 rpm (glycerol 0.75 g/g) and maximum power of 4.05 kW at 2083 rpm (glycerol 1 g/g). The lowest specific fuel consumption of 273.47 g/kWh was achieved at a glycerol ratio of 1 g/g, indicating higher efficiency compared to fuel without glycerol. Biodiesel quality and diesel engine performance were evaluated at several glycerol concentrations. The findings indicate that variations in glycerol ratio significantly influence the reduction of free fatty acid (FFA) levels and are effective as an economical pretreatment method to improve biodiesel quality and diesel engine efficiency.