Relationships derived from physical properties of vegetable oil and biodiesel fuels

The aim of this study was to estimate mathematical relationships between higher heating value (HHV) and viscosity, density or flash point measurements of various biodiesel fuels. The HHV is an important property defining the energy content and thereby efficiency of fuels, such as vegetable oils and biodiesels. The biodiesels were characterized for their physical and main fuel properties including viscosity, density, flash point and higher heating value. The viscosities of biodiesels (2.8-5.1 mm(2)/S or cSt at 311 K) were much less than those of pure oils (23-53 mm(2)/s at 311 K), and their HHVs of approximately 41 MJ/kg were 10% less than those of petrodiesel fules (similar to 46 MJ/kg). Compared to No. 2 diesel fuel, all of the vegetable oil methyl esters were slightly viscous. The density and flash point values of vegetable oil methyl esters are highly lower than those of vegetable oils. The HHVs of vegetable oils and their biodiesels were measured and correlated using linear least square regression analysis. There is high regression between viscosity and higher heating value for vegetable oil and biodiesel samples. An increase in density from 848 to 885 g/L for biodiesels increases the viscosity from 2.8 to 5.1 cSt and the increases are highly regular. There is high regression between density and viscosity values vegetable oil methyl esters. The relationships between viscosity and flash point for vegetable oil methyl esters are considerably regular. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.