Abstract
As the use of biodiesel becomes more wide-spread, engine manufacturers have expressed concern about biodiesel’s higher viscosity. In particular, they are concerned that biodiesel may exhibit different viscosity-temperature characteristics that could result in higher fuel injection pressures at low engine operating temperatures. This study presents data for the kinematic viscosity of biodiesel and its blends with No. 1 and No. 2 diesel fuels at 75, 50, and 20% biodiesel, from close to their melting point to 100°C. The results indicate that while their viscosity is higher, biodiesel and its blends demonstrate temperature-dependent behavior similar to that of No. 1 and No. 2 diesel fuels. Equations of the same general form are shown to correlate viscosity data for both biodiesel and diesel fuel, and for their blends. A blending equation is presented that allows the kinematic viscosity to be calculated as a function of the biodiesel fraction.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Graboski, M.S., and R.L. McCormick, Combustion of Fat and Vegetable Oil Derived Fuels in Diesel Engines, Prog. Energy Combust. Sci. 24:125–164 (1998).
Zhang, Y., Emissions and Combustion of Fatty Acid Esters of Soybean Oil in a Diesel Engine, M.S. Thesis, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 1994.
Clements, D.L., Blending Rules for Formulating Biodiesel Fuel. Liquid Fuels and Industrial Products from Renewable Resources, in Proceedings of the Third Liquid Fuel Conference, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, Nashville, Sept. 15–17, 1996, pp. 44–53.
Gouw T.H., J.C. Vlugter, and C.J.A. Roelands, Physical Properties of Fatty Acid Methyl Ester. VI. Viscosity, J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 43:433–436 (1966).
Noureddini, H., B.C. Teoh, and D.L. Clements, Viscosities of Vegetable Oils and Fatty Acids, Ibid.1189–1191 (1992).
Valeri, D., and A. Meirelles, Viscosities of Fatty Acids, Triglycerides, and Their Binary Mixtures, Ibid.1221–1226 (1997).
ASTM D 975-97, Standard Specifications for Diesel Fuel Oils. American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, 1998.
Peterson, C.L., G.L. Wagner, and D.L. Auld, Vegetable Oil Substitutes for Diesel Fuel, Trans. ASAE 26:322–332 (1983)
ASTM D 445-88, Standard Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids (and the Calculation of Dynamic Viscosity), American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, 1986.
Grunberg, L. and A.H. Nissan, Mixture Law for Viscosity, Nature 164:799–800 (1949).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
Tat, M.E., Van Gerpen, J.H. The kinematic viscosity of biodiesel and its blends with diesel fuel. J Amer Oil Chem Soc 76, 1511–1513 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-999-0194-0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-999-0194-0