The main aim of this thesis is to verify the suitability of waste animal fat, obtained from animal by-products in a process called rendering, as a fuel for internal combustion engines. This work is an attempt to provide guidance and minimal requirements for animal fat to be utilised as fuel. The properties of tallow were monitored on a weekly basis throughout a period of one year. Some properties, namely acidity, showed significant variability. Possible reasons causing variable and high acidity are given together with a proposal for an acidity removal method. The available laboratory facilities enabled the verification of changes in fat's viscosity, density, surface tension and lubricity in a range of temperatures. The impact of storage temperature on deterioration in tallow quality was investigated over a period of one month. The available emission control systems have been reviewed and a solution choice has been made, based on legal and economic criteria. A summary of two thousand hours operation of the 800 kW generating set using neat fat is provided. The renewable electricity generation subsidising system in the United Kingdom has been reviewed. A basic feasibility study for the installed generating set was prepared and the highest tallow price at which electricity generation is profitable was determined.
Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:569705 |
Date | January 2012 |
Creators | Piaszyk, Jakub |
Publisher | University of Birmingham |
Source Sets | Ethos UK |
Detected Language | English |
Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
Source | http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/4135/ |
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