A New Hierarchical Approach for Maximizing Biodiesel Mixing Ratio Based on the Final Product Specifications

In recent days, fossil fuel resources are decreasing day by day while the population number is continually increasing. This is why many researchers make their efforts to find new sources of energy, especially the renewable ones to compensate the deficiency of fossil energy. Biodiesel fuels are making its place as a key future renewable source and are attracting increasing attention worldwide as blending components or direct replacements for diesel fuel in vehicle engines. The principle objective of the present work is to maximize the biodiesel fraction in the diesel/biodiesel mixtures, while taking into consideration all product quality specifications as they are defined by Greek Legislation. The properties examined were density, viscosity, cloud point, pour point, volatility at temperatures 250, 350 and 360C, cetane index, cetane number, sulfur, water, higher heating value, flash point and cold filter plugging point. The results concerned the maximum biodiesel ratios of the present work are the same and in some cases are better than that of other authors. In addition to the principle objective stated earlier, this work discusses a new idea directed to predict the maximum mixing ratio of biodiesel when blended with a mixture of more than one type of fossil diesel.