TEST CELL AT KANSAS UNIVERSITY DOES DOUBLE DUTY

Single-cylinder engine test cell designed for research into biodiesel also serves as an instruction tool for students.

THE GLOBAL PETROLEUM FUEL SUPPLY is a limited resource that is understood to have a negative influence on the environment. To address this issue, researchers are investigating sources of sustainable energy to offset usage of these finite energy supplies.

One promising energy source for the transportation sector is biodiesel derived from various feedstocks. In order to perform pertinent research in this area, a multi-disciplinary effort to study the entire biodiesel spectrum from production to tailpipe emissions is under way at the University of Kansas (KU). A critical aspect of this research includes studying the effects of biodiesel composition on engine operation. This includes observing power output, fuel consumption, emissions, and mechanical wear from a single-cylinder compression ignition (CI) engine.