Comparative analysis of engine generator performance using diesel oil and biodiesels available in Paraná State, Brazil

Biodiesel is an alternative energy source used in internal combustion engines (ICE), as a replacement for diesel oil. In general, the farming and livestock activities can be used to obtain biomass sources for bioenergy production. Several raw materials (fatty acids sources) obtained from renewable sources can be employed to biodiesel production, providing biofuels with distinct physicochemical properties. Also, in Paraná State, Brazil, products such as soybean oil, sunflower oil, beef tallow, and chicken fat are used for biodiesel manufacturing. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the engine generator performance using biodiesels obtained from soybean, sunflower, chicken fat and beef tallow compared to mineral diesel. The tests were performed using an engine with power of 7.36kW on an electric generator with power of 5.5kW. In engine load simulation, it was used as resistor bank, being the power generation selected on dashboard controller in the following sequences: 1.0kW, 2.0kW, 3.0kW and 4.0kW. The engine generator performance was evaluated by specific fuel consumption (SFC) and efficiency (η). In general, the engine SFC using biodiesels was higher, when compared to diesel oil. However, the overall efficiency of engine generator with biodiesels was higher, with gain of up to 2.0%. Among the biodiesels compared to diesel oil, the best results for engine generator performance were obtained, respectively, from sunflower and soybean oils, due to lower increase in the SFC (7.6%) and slight increase in the overall efficiency.