Correlation between Apparent Activation Energy and NO _x Emission of Renewable Diesel from Sugar Cane, Biodiesel, Fossil Diesel and their Blends

Biofuels and their blends with fossil fuel are important energy resources, which production and application have been largely increased internationally. This study focus on the development of a correlation between apparent activation energy (E_a) and NO_x emission of the thermal decomposition of three pure fuels: farnasane (renewable diesel from sugar cane), biodiesel and fossil diesel and their blends. Apparent Activation energy was determined by using thermogravimetry and Model-Free Kinetics. NO_x emission was obtained from the European Stationary Cycle (ESC) with OM 926LA CONAMA P7/Euro 5 engine. Results showed that there is a linear correlation between apparent activation energy and NO_x emission with R² of 0,9667 considering pure fuels and their blends which is given as: NO_x = 2,2514E_a - 96,309. The average absolute error of this correlation is 2.96% with respect to the measured NO_x value. The main advantage of this correlation is its capability to predict NO_x emission when either a new pure fuel or a blend of fuels is proposed to use in enginees.