Project Goals:

1

• Project Goals
• Create a kit for a standard single cylinder
  Lister engine which is
• Diesel and straight vegetable oil (SVO) capable
• Able to run at variable RPMs
• Research the degradation rate of the engine as
  a function of fuel source and time

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• Intended Fuel Source
• Jatropha Curcas plant
• grows easily in arid, unnourished soil
• yields 35 oil per seed
• production of seeds is about 0.8 kg per meter of
  hedge per year

2

• Project Outline
• Duel Fuel-Tank System permits an easy switch
  between diesel and bio-fuel
• Fuel Preheater preheats the fuel to achieve
  desired viscosity
• Automatic Throttle allows for variable RPM based
  on load
• Oil Analysis reveals how engine degradation
  correlates to fuel choice

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3
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Dual Tank System
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• Project Goal reduce amount of diesel fuel used
  in Lister engine operation
• Dual tanks, one supplying diesel fuel, and the
  other supplying jatropha (SVO)
• Start and finish on diesel viscosity difference
• Jatropha (SVO) more viscous than diesel fuel. The
  engine will be primed and flushed with diesel
  fuel.
• Once the engine is running the jatropha will be
  continuously heated, viscosities of the fuels
  will be comparable, allowing for jatropha run
  capability.

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4
Dual Tank System / Preheater Schematic
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Filter (Easy View) filters to 40 microns
Heat Rope Super-High-Temperature 36" Length, 125
Watts
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Vegetable Oil Inline filter 8mm, plastic
L10-D5.5cm
Diesel Inline filter 8mm plastic L10 x D 5.5 cm
5
Viscosity f(T)Biodiesel fuel which has
undergone transesterfication, making the
triglycerides of jatropha oil react with methyl
alcohol to produce glycerol and fatty acid
esterSVO straight vegetable oil
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6
Viscosity Testing In order to optimize engine
performance of the engine the viscostiy of
jatropha must be studied as a function of
temperature
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Brookfield Viscometer rotates a sensing element
in a fluid and measures the torque necessary to
overcome the viscous resistance to the induced
movement. This is proportional to the viscosity
of the fluid
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Hot Plate Standard hot plate with digital
temperature display
7
Temperature Sensing In order to maximize the
efficiency of the engine, we need to know the
temperature at various locations of the engine
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• TC-J-NPT-U72 from Omega
• Rugged Pipe Plug Probe
• 1/4 NPT fitting
• J-Type (0C to 750C)
• output 8 mV at 210C and 33 mv at 600C.
• Ungrounded

• AD594AQ Monolithic Chip from analog.com
• complete instrumentation amplifier
• thermocouple cold junction compensator
• combines an ice point reference w/ precalibrated
  amplifier to produce a high level (10 mV/C)
  output directly from a thermocouple signal.
  Supply voltage is 4.5-5V.

8
Sensing the RPM Reflective tape will be placed
on the rotating flywheel
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• The SM312LV MiniBeam
• Banner Engineering
• Self-Contained Retroreflective Sensors
• Range 5 m
• Input 10-30V dc
• Output Bipolar 1 NPN 1 PNP
• 2 m (6.5 ft) cable
• Cost Donated by Banner Engineering!
• (Price 81.00)

• RetroReflective Tape
• Banner Engineering
• BRT-THG-1-100
• Reflectivity Factor 0.7
• Max Temp 60oC
• Adhesive Back for mounting

9
Heat Transfer Calculation Determines Heat Tape
Length
10
Three Phases of Preheating System
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• Phase One
• Heat with only AC heat rope
• Power source standard wall socket
• Achieve optimal viscosity of jatropha fuel upon
  fuel injection

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• Phase Two
• Integrate heat exchanger (off exhaust) to
  compliment preheating system
• Run Heat tape in series with inverter
• Power Source Standard DC car battery

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• Phase Three
• Remove heat rope, replace with DC heat source
• Connect battery to alternator, when the engine
  runs it charges battery automatically