Project News

On March 30 and April 1, 2015, Dr. Nuwong Chollacoop and Dr. Manida Tongroon, researchers of National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), along with their colleagues, presented the success of a test 10% blend of high quality biodiesel (H-FAME) from jatropha for on-road, with an unmodified common-rail vehicle, in the 11th International Conference of Automotive Engineering. The Society of Automotive Engineering-Thailand (SEA-Thailand) hosts this conference which is a platform for researchers, engineers, academicians, as well as industrial professionals from all over the world to present their research results and development activities in automotive technology including, research about energy and renewable energy for transportation.

Is it one of our project goals to prove the automobile fuel compatibility of H-FAME from jatropha oil in order to warrant H-FAME for commercial use.

MTEC has an important role in the testing process where 10% of H-FAME is blended with regular diesel. The testing utilized a common-rail light duty vehicle and regular diesel fuel, from Tripetch Isuzu Sale Co.,Ltd and PTT Public Company,Ltd.,respectively. The durability test consisted of a road test including mountain, suburban and urban road conditions over a distance of 50,000 km. After completion of 50,000 km actual driving, the engine was dismounted for visual inspection and wear assessment against the manufacturer's guidelines.

Our research members presented the findings in their presentation "50,000km On-Road Durability Test of Common-Rail Vehicle with 10% Blend of High Quality Biodiesel (H-FAME) from Jatropha" as follows.

1. No abnormal phenomena of driveability and dynamic performance were found during on-road validation.
2. No oil leaks and engine damage were found.
3. There were no significant differences between initial and final results on static and dynamic performance.
4. All emission data complied with Euro 3 emission standard with CO and PM additionally complied with Euro 4 emission standard.
5. No abnormal wear or contamination were found in lube oil analyses.
6. No abnormal cleanliness (via visual inspection) and wear (via clearance measurement) were found in the various engine parts (intake/exhaust valves, pistons, cylinder heads/blocks, injectors) after 50,000 km with reference to normal diesel guidelines.

Ultimately, B10 from Jatropha H-FAME showed full compatibility with an unmodified common-rail engine using general diesel.

Presentation at CAE-11

Certification of Participation