ABSTRACT
Vegetable oils have two broad classifications: edible oils and nonedible. Vegetable oil molecules are triglycerides with unbranched chains of different lengths and different degree of saturation. The concept of using vegetable oil as fuel dates back to 1895 when Dr. Rudolf Diesel developed the first diesel engine to run on vegetable oil. Due to the ever rising crude oil prices and environmental concern, there has been a renewed focus on the vegetable oils and their derivatives for use in engines. Dilution of vegetable oils can be accomplished with such materials as diesel fuel, solvent, or ethanol. Heating of vegetable oils could reduce their viscosity and hence improve the spray pattern of vegetable oil atomization that leads to improvement in engine performance. As the engine requires frequent maintenance, this is best suited for stationary engine application particularly in power generation and water pumping generator motor set applications.
