Stability studies of water-in-diesel emulsion.

Abstract

In general, water-in-diesel (W/D) emulsion reduces both particulate matter and nitrogen oxides gas emissions level in diesel engine application as compared of using conventional diesel fuel. W/D emulsion was usually produced by addition of water into the diesel fuel with a slight quantity of surfactant at high speed of propeller mixing. The studies examine the result of several aspects on emulsion stability. Investigated variables are type of surfactant, mixing speed and mixing time. Surfactant used are span 80 and many type of glycerines which have been derived from a corn oil, palm oil, soy oil, rice bran oil and sunflower oil. The results show that the type of surfactant gives a big impact on the stability period of the emulsion fuel. The higher mixing speed and less water percentage increase the stability period of W/D emulsion fuel. Optimum mixing time is 5 minutes for W/D emulsion fuel which using Span 80 as surfactant with mixing speed of 2500 rpm.