Utilization of jatropha (Jatropha curcas Linnaeus) seed cake as fuel in an improved bioflame stove

Date

4-2011

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering

Major Course

Major in Agricultural and Bio-Process Engineering

College

College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Jessie C. Elauria

Committee Member

Edgardo V. Casas, Rossana Marie C. Amongo

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Abstract

The study observed the combustion characteristics of Jatropha (Jatropha curcas Linnaeus) seed cake and determined the optimum operating combinations of the Improved BioFlame Stove with Jatropha seed cake as fuel. A three-level three-parameter set-up utilizing Design No. 1 of the Box and Behnken method was used which resulted in 15 experimental runs. The independent parameters considered were the number of passes of Jatropha seeds from the AMDP Jatropha oil expeller (2-passes, 3-passes, and 4- passes), area of stove opening (5.75 cm2, 12.25 cm 2 , and 18.75 cm2), and fuel size (<1.27 cm, 1.27 to 2.54 cm, and >2.54 cm). The design considered (1) burning rate, (2) specific fuel consumption, and (3) thermal efficiency as the response variables. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) of Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) version 9 showed the significant effects of independent parameters on the burning rate, specific fuel consumption, and thermal efficiency of the Improved BioFlame Stove with Jatropha seed cake as fuel. Area of the stove opening and fuel size had significantly affected the three dependent parameters at 95% level of confidence. The number of passes of Jatropha seeds from the AMDP Jatropha oil expeller, on the other hand, only had a significant effect on burning rate at 95% level of confidence. General Linear Models Procedure of the SAS version 9 showed that the Duncan grouping for each level of specific fuel consumption and thermal efficiency on each response variable were different from each other, hence, the levels of variation of the independent parameters were significant. However, the Duncan grouping of the three levels of the number of passes were the same for all response variables, hence, the effect of variation of the number of passes is insignificant. Using STATISTICA version 7, the optimum operating condition was obtained using 4-passes sample with 18.75 cm2

of stove opening and fuel size of >2.54 cm. At 95% level of significance, the predicted values for burning rate, specific fuel consumption, and thermal efficiency at optimum condition were 0.255896 g/s, 117.9075 g/L, and 24.94709%, respectively. The established optimum combination was subjected to three verification runs. The predicted values were compared with the actual values obtained from the verification runs. Results showed that the standard deviation of the values ranged from 0.032 to 17.66. Though a large deviation was observed in the specific fuel consumption, the obtained value was still acceptable since it was within the range of predicted values produced in the study. Hence, the established optimum conditions were validated.

Language

English

LC Subject

Jatropha, Jatropha--Biotechnology

Location

UPLB College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2011 A2 M36

Document Type

Thesis

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