ABSTRACT
There is recent interest for the utilisation of renewable and alternative fuels by the European Union (EU), which is regulated by Directive 2009/30/ EC. For the usage of biodiesel blends, a lower limit of 7% by volume biodiesel fuel blend in diesel fuel is currently imposed. The specifications of biodiesel fuels which can be used for blending diesel fuel are defined by the European standard EN 14214 [1]. The physical properties of biodiesel affect the diesel blends, and the range of density, viscosity, and flash point of biodiesel are specified in EN 14214. However, other physical properties
of diesel blends including the surface tension coefficient, the fuel vapour pressure, the boiling point, and the latent heat of evaporation also affect the injected fuel spray characteristics, the resulting air/fuel mixing, combustion, and the emissions of diesel internal combustion engines (ICE), as well as the engine overall performance.
