This document is a seminar project report on biodiesel as an alternative fuel submitted by engineering students. It discusses biodiesel production methods such as transesterification, advantages like reduced emissions and independence from foreign oil, challenges including low temperatures affecting performance, and the future potential of biodiesel as a renewable fuel source. The report concludes that biodiesel is a promising sustainable fuel that can be used in current diesel engines without modification.

1. GOVERNMENT ENGINEERING COLLEGE
BILASPUR, (C.G.)
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
SEMINAR PROJECT REPORT
“BIODIESEL-AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL”
SESSION2017-18
GUIDED BY: - SUBMITTED BY:-
MR.SATISH GAVEL ADITYA SINGH
AKASH SHARMA

2. MECHANICAL GECBILASPUR (C.G.)
1BIODIESEL-AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL
BIODIESEL
AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL
GEC BILASPUR
CHHATTISGARH

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2BIODIESEL-AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I am extremely privileged to have got this all along in
completionof my project. All I have done is the supervision of
my teachers and my HOD and I would not forget to thank
them.
I respect and thank Mr. Satish Gavel sir for giving me the
opportunityto do the project and giving us all the support and
guidance which made me complete my project.
I owe my deep gratitude to our HOD sir Mr. G.K.Agrawal sir and
all the department members of Mechanicalengineering
department GEC Bilaspurwho gave us the help in completing
this project.

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3BIODIESEL-AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL
CONTENT
1)BIODIESEL
a)What is biodiesel
b)The chemical process
c) Methods of preparing
2)Advantages of biodiesel
a)Comparison with petrol diesel
b)Another advantages
3)Disadvantages of biodiesel
a)Envioromental problem
b)Problem brought by biodiesel
c) Challenges brought by biodiesel
4)Future of biodiesel
5)Scope
6)Conclusion

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4BIODIESEL-AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL
1 Biodiesel
a) What is biodiesel?
Biodiesel is an alternative fuel for diesel engine. It is mostly made fromvegetable
oil, human fat and wasteproducts by chemical processing. Thebiodiesel is
biodegradable, non toxic sourceof energy.
b) The chemical process:-
The biodiesel is processed fromvegetable oil. The main componentfor
production of biodiesel is triglyceride. Triglycerideis made from the combination
of glyceroland three fatty acids.
Biodiesel is a combination of triglyceride with a monohydroxy alcohol(i.e.
methanol, ethanol). The process is called Transestrification.
c) Preparing biodiesel:-
1. Direct use and blending.
2. Microemulsion
2.1. Thermal cracking (pyrolysis)
2.2. Transesterification(alcohol)
2.3. Other transesterification.

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5BIODIESEL-AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL
Fig.2methodsof preparingthe biodiesel
1.Direct use and blending method
1.1. Direct use:-
1.1.1. 100% biofuelwith no petrol diesel.
1.1.2. B100
1.2. Blending
1.2.1. Usual varities B5, B10, B12
1.2.2. B10 means 10% petrol and 90% biodiesel.
2.Microemulsions:- Itsolves the problem of high viscosity. They are
solvents like ethanol or methanol. Improvespraycharacterstics by explosive
vaporization.in spite of lower cetane number and energy level the
microemulsion fuel is as good as diesel no. 2.
Direct use and
blending
Microemulsions
Thermal cracking
Transestrification
Other types of
transestrification
Methods of preparing Biodiesel

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6BIODIESEL-AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL
2.1. Thermal cracking (pyrolysis):- the conversion of
one substanceinto other by heat is called pyrolysis. This is donein absence
of air, in the presence of oxygen. Firstpyrolysis of vegetable oil was
conducted to synthesizepetroleum fromvegetable oil. The process is
simple and effective compared with other cracking processes.Rapeseed oil
pyrolyzed to produce a mixture of methyl esters in a tubular reactor
between 500 and 850°Cand in nitrogen.
2.2. Transesterification(alcoholysis):- the reaction of
fat or oil to produceesters and glycerol. The catalystis usually used to
improvethe reaction rate.
2.2.1. Mechanics and kinetics:-

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Reaction for alcoholysis for production of biodiesel
Rection of triglyceride

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PROCESS OF TRANSESTRIFICATIONBY DOWNSTREAM OPERATION

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2.3. Other transesterification:- In-situ transesterification is
taken into consideration.
Found that acid catalyzed in-situ process is better than conventional
methods .
By increasing reaction temperature and time and by decreasing the
particle sizeof the soybeans and the water content of ethanol, a purer
productwas obtained.
The separated glycerolreacted with triglycerides to producemono- and
diglycerides, which are valuable chemical intermediates for detergents and
emulsifiers.
PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES :-
1. Primary production technique
2. Secondary production
technique.
3. Tertiary production technique
1) PRIMARY PRODUCTION :-
 Oldest and mostcommon production technique.
2) SECONDARY PRODUCTION:-

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 Combination of esterification and trans esterification.
3) TERTIARY PRODUCTION:-
 ALGAL SYNTHESIS
 Third generation process
 Costly and time consuming.
 Other includes fungal cultivated biodiesels and biodiesels fromcoffee
ground beans .(under R&D) .

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2). ADVANTAGES OF BIODIESEL
1. Comparison with diesel:-
description highspeeddiesel lowspeeddiesel diesel 100%methylester 100%ethylester
specificgravity 0.81-0.87 0.920max 0.8283 0.8642 0.92
kinematicviscocity 1.8-4.1 8.0max 3.36-1.14 6.32-2.04 23.68
pourpoint 10max 16max 1 15 18
flashpoint 52min 66min 65.73 152 19
firepoint 74 188 210
corrosionASTMD130 no.1max no.1 no.1 no.1
carbonresidue 0.05 0.04 0.065 0.2
heatingvalue 47,330 40,390 37,077

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Another Advantages
Biodiesel has huge advantages along with little disadvantages, the pure formof
biodiesel i.e. B100 can decrease the releasing of carbon dioxide by 78% and
reduces the carcinogenic qualities of diesel by 94%. Biodiesel can also decrease
the U.S. dependence on other countries for oil and also upgrades the energy
security. Italso helps in the engines free movement by acting as a solvent, which
aids to break the deposits within the engine that normally causehinders. A
normal opinion is that the use of 1% of biodiesel with other fuels may upgradeor
increase its instability by 65%, along with that it is harmless non-toxic (about10
times less poisonous than table salt). Pure biodiesel can be manufactured from
renewable resources, itreduces global warming and also it is energy efficient.
• Easy to use – can be used in existing engine without any changes. Biodiesel
can be pumped , stored and burned justlike other fuels.
• Power, performanceand economy –it provides excellent lubricity to the
fuel injection system. Purebiodiesel and biodiesel blended with petroleum
fuel provide very similar horsepower, torque and fuel mileage compared to
the petroleum diesel fuel.
• Emission and greenhousegas reduction –it provides significantly reduced
carbon monoxide, particulate matter and sulfates compared to petroleum
diesel fuel. Ithelps reduce the risk of global warming.
• Biodegradability, safety and recycling –biodiesel can be made of many
vegetable oils including wasteand is proven to be biodegradable. Is safer to
handle due to low volatility and high flash point.
• Economic development –since it can be made of locally available resources,
its production can providea host of economic benefits for local
communities.

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3). Disadvantages of Biodiesel
Generally, B100 comprises approximately 8% low energy per gallon, also have
higher cloud point and pour point than diesel. B100 increases nitrogen oxide
emission where it contributes to smog formation and also not consistentwith
metals and plastics. Pure biodiesel is not consistentwith few gasketand hose
substances, which may causethem to mollify, lowers the capacity and breach.
So, to overcomethese disadvantages blending is necessary and many
manufacturing firms produceB5 and B20 which has the low percent of biodiesel.
Hence, it is necessary to invent and discover new sources of fuel to lower the
dependency on fuel based on petroleum because the present implementations
can reduce the dependency only to a few extent.
We have discussed hereBenefits of Biodiesel and they are: High cetane number
(average45,8-56,9 units), High flash point(above +100), Good lubricating
property, Absenceof sulfur and aromatic hydrocarbons, Low toxicity of emissions,
Virtually complete biodegradability (99% ), biodiesel are destroyed in water or soil
for 28 days) and Zero balance of greenhousegases.
Environmental Issues
 Burning fossilfuels increases atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide
 Fossilfuels are a finite resource
Problems brought by Biodiesel
 Certain biodiesel gels easily under cold temperature
 Deforestation for plantation
Biodiesel Challenges
 Cold Weather Operation

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 Manufacturing enough feedstock oil to replace a large segment of
petroleum
 Engine and emissions optimization
 Some biodiesel may begin to cloud and gel at temperatures as high as 60F.
 Biodiesel is less oxidatively stable than petroleum diesel fuel, old fuel can
become acidic and form sediments and varnish.
 Biodiesel has 12.5% less energy then the diesel per pound, however it is
slightly heavier then diesel.
 Biodiesel is may be reactive with brass and copper.
 Ittakes energy to produce biodiesel and it is costly then the petrol because
of low production.
 There is limited supply of biodiesel.

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4). Future of biodiesel
 Should be considered for use as an substitute and not a primary
fuel
 Short and long term environmental benefits will be worthwhile
 Storage Issues with Security and Transportation issues with high
cost of delivered fuel contrasted to fossil fuels
 Fuel-supply reliability
 Lack of understanding of environmental impact – NOx emissions
 Complexity of biomass-power infrastructure contrasted to known
well established coal and natural gas markets.

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5). Scope
POTENTIAL USE OF BIODIESEL IN INDIA
 Energy security in remote villages.
 National energy security and reduction of crude oil imports.
 Reduction of Co2 emissions .
MANI FINDINGS ON INDIAN BIODIESEL PERSPECTIVE
 Only a few states encouraging biodiesels cultivation (TBO
based)
 Lack of favorable policies .
 Lack of awareness on biodiesels.
 Consumers and farmers reluctant.
 A promising fuel for developing India and a source of
income for the agricultural sector.
RECOMMENDATIONS :
 Consumption of biodiesel should be favored over
fossil diesel, provided the energy and carbon balance
of biodiesel production is positive.
 Demand-side incentives are crucial to get the
biodiesel sector going and make investment risks
more calculable.
 A considerable research effort is needed to increase
knowledge about TBO-based biodiesel

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6). Conclusion
 Biodiesels is a significant sustainable energy resource and is used
all over the world:- it is known that biodiesel can be prepared
from the vegetable oils, human fat and waste materials, so it is a
renewable , biodegradable sustainable option for petrol diesel.
 Biodiesel can be used as an alternative fuel without any
modification to the present diesel engine:- it is clear from the
study that the biofuel is comparatively less efficient but in future
it will be a great source of energy and the main thing with
biodiesel is the parts of engine do not any upgrade for using
biodiesel.
 Promising alternate fuel:- as it is mentioned above biodiesel is a
renewable fuel so in futureit will be a promising fuel as the sourceof this
fuel will never get away or will be extinct.
 New area of study:- biodiesel is the new area of intrest to science,
engineering and economics. This new area will open the gate for so many
other subjects on the topic of alternative sourceof energy.