The Potential of Using Vegetable Oil Fuels and Ethanol as Fuels for Engine Operation at Heights Well Above Sea Level

The purpose of this work was to study the use of blends with up to 10% of bio-fuels in Bogotá. Two and three component mixtures were used containing petroleum petrodiesel fuel plus crude and refined African palm oil, oleine and anhydrous ethanol. Tests were made on the exhaust gases for opacity and weight of the particulate matter retained by filtration on glass filters. Torque, power, rpm and temperature of the combustion gases were recorded. Tests were run for NOx, CO, and SOx. Three different diesel engines were used: a single cylinder Lister engine fitted for tests, a 6 cylinder Cummins engine and a 6 cylinder Caterpillar engine. The results show a positive potential of palm oil RBD, palm oil oleine and anhydrous ethanol for blends with commercial petroleum diesel fuel in the Andes mountains.