Comprehensive assessment using preheat crude palm oil on endurance test engine diesel: Technical and supply chain scheme

• Published in: Industrial crops and products 2023-11, Vol.204, p.117286, Article 117286
• Main Authors: Gunawan, Yohanes, Firmansyah, Arfie Ikhsan, Supriatna, Nina Konitat, al Irsyad, Muhammad Indra, Cendrawati, Dian Galuh, Ahadi, Khalif, Adilla, Ikrar, Silitonga, Arridina Susan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biofuels; Bleached palm oil; Crude palm oil; Degummed CPO; Diesel power plants
• ISSN: 0926-6690; 1872-633X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2023.117286

Burdened by oil imports and subsidies for more than 5000 diesel power plants, Indonesia aims to use crude palm oil (CPO) as fuel in the power plants. Previous studies only focused on the technical feasibility of using CPO. Therefore, this study aimed to enrich the existing literature by analyzing the technical feasibility of using CPO, degummed CPO, and bleached palm oil (BPO) fuels on endurance test for 500 operational hours with a 20 kW diesel engine capacity for each type of fuels. Our analysis included component rating and the measurement of specific fuel consumption, emissions, oil dilution, and deposit materials. The assessment concluded that diesel engines using CPO, BPO, and degummed CPO increased specific fuel consumption, deposit formation, and emissions of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide compared to engines using a 30% FAME blend in HSD or Biodiesel 30. This implies that CPO, BPO, and degummed CPO could be used in diesel engines, though fuel consumption and maintenance costs tend to increase. Based on the test results, we provided an efficient CPO supply chain from CPO mills to diesel power plants. [Display omitted] •Diesel engines successfully used four types of crude palm oils (CPO) for 500 operating hours.•The most suitable type of CPO for replacing diesel fuel in diesel engine power plant is Degummed CPO.•Two-stage filters with a water trap reduced the water content by 80%.•Heating crude palm oil to 85 °C reduces viscosity by 8 cst.•Economic feasibility is more sensitive to crude palm oil prices.