running diesel engine on glycerine

[Ivan]

this one's for Frotter and Ken more than anyone else.


Have you ever tried or considered trying running a diesel engine on glycerine? One wonders whether it is possible. There's an ever growing glycerine lake from biodiesel production, and most would be glad to give it away. I've already amounted about 60litres of the damn stuff.

[Ivan]

Here's an interesting article - conversion of glycerine to a kind of biodiesel. Anyone out there in academia got access to the full text?

http://www.sae.org/technical/papers/2003-01-2281

[Chug]

you may be alright with glycerol by product derived using Potassium Hydroxide as it stays liquid but trying to use glycerol by product derived using Sodium Hydroxide would set solid except in warmer weather.

peace n grease
Chug

[Ivan]

You could

1)Mix glycerine with another fuel that it won't settle out of (one paper I read suggested it dissolves in veg oil)

2)Heat the glycerine using engine coolant/electrical heaters


The crude glycerine from biodiesel contains maybe 30% methanol. That'll keep it liquid unless the methanol evaporates, even if you use NaOH.