Combustion, Engine performance and Emission Characteristics of Biodiesel from Cyanobacteria (BLUE GREEN ALGAE) Isolated from Alau Dam Maiduguri, Borno State

Abstract

Due to the potential exhausting and increasing price of petroleum together with environmental issues caused by the combustion of fossil fuels, the search for alternative fuels has gained much attention. In this study, the combustion, engine performance and emission of characteristics of biodiesel produced from cyanobacteria (blue green algae) will be evaluated. Biodiesel sample used in this research was produced using transesterification processes. 5ml of biodiesel was collected from Department of microbiology department, University of Maiduguri to determine its combustion activities (high heating value, pour and cloud point, flash point and refractive index), engine performance (brake specific fuel consumption, brake thermal energy and brake specific energy consumption) and emission characteristics using biodiesel blend of 95%. All the properties analyzed were within the regulatory limits stipulated for conventional diesel as per ASTM specifications. Biodiesel blended fuels can significantly reduce the emissions of harmful pollutants other than NOx and CO2. Blended biodiesel also improves performance of engine where brake thermal heat (BTE) and brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) values are reduced significantly.