Fuel Go Boom

Objectives/Goals 

To measure the energy output during the combustion of biodiesel- petrodiesel fuel blends.

To determine which fuel/fuel blend will optimize energy output.

Methods/Materials

• 0.250 L of biodiesel
• 0.250 L of commercial-grade petrodiesel
• Benzoic acid tablet
• Iron fuse wire
• Bomb calorimeter
• XLinx Software

Method

1)Place sample in crucible

2)Twist fuse wire onto both ends of calorimeter to allow a current to pass

3)Place wire so it comes in contact with sample

4)Assemble calorimeter

5)Detonate bomb

6)Record temperature change using software

7)When temperature graph asymptotes, remove and clean bomb.

8)Repeat steps 1-7 for other samples.

Results

Biodiesel yielded 8556.90 kilocalories per liter of fuel combusted. 50-50 biodiesel to petrodiesel blend yielded 8415.01 kilocalories per liter of fuel combusted. Petrodiesel yielded 8324.81 kilocalories per liter of fuel combusted. 

Conclusions/Discussion 

The hypothesis of the experiment was correct. As the percentage of biodiesel increased in a biodiesel-petrodiesel fuel blend, the energy output increased in a somewhat proportional manner. 

This helps to demonstrate the feasibility of biodiesel as a mass-produced alternative fuel. In order to better model this relationship, a greater variety of fuel blends should have been used. 

This was unable to be accomplished due to time-restraints in the lab. 

Overall, project was valid. Little systematic error, and the errors caused by uncertainties in lab equipment would only yield a ±0.6039% change in the worst-case scenario.