Investigating the methods of reducing the cold flow properties of biodiesel

Vahid Hazratgholipour¹ Nazanin Shojaeifar²

1) Graduated with a master s degree in chemical engineering majoring in thermokinetic and catalysis, Sahand Tabriz University of Technology, Tabriz, Iran-
2) Graduated with a master s degree in chemical engineering, majoring in separation processes, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran-

Publication : 2nd International Conference on Recent Advances in Engineering, Innovation and Technology - Belgium(eitconf.com)
Abstract :
Biodiesels are renewable fuels that may be produced from different raw materials using different techniques. In some countries of the world, it has been approved as a suitable alternative to diesel fuel. While biodiesel has several advantages, the cold flow properties (CFP) of biodiesel are significantly less satisfactory compared to petrodiesel. This is due to the presence of esters of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Poor biodiesel CFP will subsequently affect cold-weather performance and damage the engine s fuel system as well as choke the fuel filter, fuel inlet lines, and injector nozzles. Previously, efforts were made to minimize the detrimental effect of bad cold flow by lowering the pour point, cloud point, and cold filter attachment point of biodiesel. This study focuses on the mechanisms involved in CFP biodiesel and highlights the factors that initiate and accelerate the crystallization process. This review shows that the CFP of biodiesel fuel can be improved using different techniques. Winterization has been shown to significantly improve the CFP of some biodiesels. Additives such as polymethyl acrylate improve CFP by 3-9°C. However, it is recommended that improvement methods in terms of fuel properties and efficiency should be carefully studied and tested, as they may affect biodiesel performance and cetane number.
Keywords : biodiesel cold flow improver drop point cloud point cold filter connection point