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Heat Output of Diesel, Kerosene and
Biodiesel in Smudge Pots
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Researched by Derek L.
2005-06
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PURPOSE
The purpose of this experiment was to compare the heat output of
diesel, kerosene and an alternative fuel source in orchard smudge pots.
I became interested in this idea when I was watching the news and it
reported on rising diesel prices, I wondered if there was a cheaper and
more efficient fuel for diesel-powered items, like vehicles or heaters.
The information gained from this experiment could help people with an
orchard. It could save thousands of dollars each year with the rising
prices of diesel.
HYPOTHESIS
My first hypothesis was that biodiesel would burn longer than kerosene
or diesel.
My second hypothesis was that diesel would burn hotter than kerosene
and biodiesel.
I based my hypothesis on that biodiesel has a lower viscosity then
either of the others. My second hypothesis was based on the fact
that most smudge pots use diesel.
EXPERIMENT
DESIGN
The constants in this study were:
• The smudge pot
• Starting temperature
• Air temperature
• Volume of fuel used
• Measurement methods
The manipulated variable was the type of fuel being burned in the
smudge pot.
The responding variables were the heat of the smudge pot’s fumes and
burn time.
To measure the responding variables, I used a thermometer to measure
the surrounding fumes, a surface thermometer for the surface of the
smudge pot and a watch to measure burn time.
MATERIALS
QUANTITY ITEM
DESCRIPTION
1
Smudge Pot
8
liters
Biodiesel
8
liters
Diesel
8
liters
Kerosene
1
Raytak Raynger Thermometer
1
High Temperature Probe
1
Measuring Device
1
Lighter
PROCEDURES
1. Check for materials
2. Prepare 2.5 liters of designated fuel
3. Pour the fuel into the fuel chamber
4. Light the fuel, take down the time that the fluid
lights
5. Every two minutes take a probe and a laser
temperature
6. When flame retires record ending time
7. Repeat steps 2-5 three times for that fuel
8. Repeat steps 2-6 for each fuel
9. Clean up and give back the materials borrowed
RESULTS
The original purpose of this experiment was the purpose of this
experiment was to compare the heat output of diesel, kerosene and an
alternative fuel source in orchard smudge pots.
The results of the experiment were that kerosene created the most heat
at 291.3 and 651.8 degrees Celsius, then diesel at 289.4 and 625.7
degrees Celsius, finally biodiesel at 269.7 and 584 degrees Celsius. In
time biodiesel came first with 49.7 minutes, then diesel with 48.7
minutes, and finally 45 minutes.
See the table and graph below.
CONCLUSION
My original hypothesis was that biodiesel would burn longer than
kerosene or diesel.
My second hypothesis was that diesel would burn hotter than kerosene
and biodiesel.
The results indicate that my first hypothesis should be accepted,
because biodiesel burn longer than both diesel and kerosene.
My second hypothesis should be rejected because the kerosene burned
hotter than either of the other fuels.
After thinking about the results of this experiment, I wonder if I
would use more of the fuel how the differences would change.
If I were to conduct this project again I would use more types of fuel
and more of each of them.
Introduction
Fuels are a very important energy source that we use to power
engine-driven machines, heat homes and many other things, and generate
electricity. This is the reason why fuels are so important to today’s
society. Smudge pots are used to keep fruit safe from nature.
Biodiesel
History
The transesterification of vegetable oil was conducted as early as 1853
by scientists E. Duffy and J. Patrick. Rudolf Diesel created the first
diesel powered engine in 1893. Diesel used peanut oil which is not a
complete biodiesel only a biofuel. This engine was presented at the
World Fair in Paris, France in 1900, getting the “Grand Prix”. In 1912
Diesel made a speech that included “The use of vegetable oils for
engine fuels may seem insignifigant today, but such oils may become, in
the course of time, as important as petroleum and the coal-tar products
of the present time.” In the 1920’s diesel engine manufacturers altered
their engines to take the lower viscosity of petrodiesel. In 1978-1996
US National Renewable Energy Laboratory experimented using algae as a
biofuel source. Also in the 1990’s France launched the local production
of biodiesel which was obtained by transesterification of rapeseed oil
mixed with a proportion of 5% regular diesel.
Health
Biodiesel reduces the emissions of carbon monoxide by up to 50%, carbon
dioxide by 78.45%, benzofluoranthenes by 56%, and benzopyrenes by 71%.
It eliminates sulfur emissions and many others.
Production
Of the base oils for biodiesel, rapeseed and soybean oils are most
common, though others can include mustard, palm oil, hemp and even
algae. Waste vegetable oil can be used for biodiesel as can animal
fats. The US EPA says that restaurants in the US produce 300 million US
gallons of waste oil annually. The estimated annual usage of
transportation fuel and home heating fuel is about 230,000 million US
gallons. Soybean oil, which is most common in the US, produces from 40
to 50 US gallons of fuel per acre. Rapeseed, which is most common in
Europe, gets from 110 to 145 US gallons per acre. Mustard provides 140
US gallons per acre. Jatropha produces 175 US gallons per acre. Palm
oil yields 650 US gallons per acre. Algae gets from 10,000 to 20,000 US
gallons per acre.
Diesel
Production
Diesel fuel is produced from petroleum. It is also called
petrodiesel or nicknamed “dinodiesel”. It is obtained from the
fractional distillation of crude oil. The atmospheric pressure is
between 250 to 350 degrees celsius. Diesel is typically 18% denser than
regular grade gasoline. This is about 7.1 pounds per US gallon which is
about 15% heavier than gasoline, 6 pounds per US gallon.
Uses
Diesel is used for many different things including central heating
systems. The taxes are higher for transportation fuel than heating oil
because of a type of fuel tax. This fuel is marked with fuel dyes and
trace chemicals to prevent unneeded taxes to be fined. This diesel is
used in the US for agricultural tractors so they don’t pay a road
tax. Diesel is also used in diesel engines which uses internal
combustion. This engine, which was created by Rudolf Diesel, was
originally designed to take peanut oil but oil was more productive.
These engines are used in cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats and
locomotives.
Kerosene
History
First refined from coal by Atlantic Canada’s Abraham Gesner in 1846
also founding the modern petroleum industry. Gesner established his
kerosene gaslight company to market kerosene worldwide. In 1856
Polish chemist Ignancy Lukasiewicz discovered the means of refining
kerosene from much less expensive seep oil.
Uses
At one time kerosene was used mainly in kerosene lamps. Kerosene is now
mainly used in jet fuel and cooking fuel for portable stoves. A form of
kerosene, RP-1, is now burned with liquid oxygen as rocket fuel. Is
mainly used in Japan for home heating.
Smudge Pots
Smudge pots are used to create a cloud smog over the orchard to create
a radiation field to keep the trees above freezing tempature. Smudge
pots include a holding tank for the fuel and a burning area
higher in the stack. Diesel is most commonly used in smudge pots.
Smudge pots are known to be used historically in orange groves. Smudge
pots are also used to fend off insects from the fruit trees. Smudge
pots are now being sold commercially to homeowners to keep bugs away.
Summary
That is why smudge pots and the fuels are so important to modern
society today.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Newman, Jen. “The Grove Experience: Smudging all night long” 1/19/06
http://www.ulv.edu/comms/lvm/sum02/smudge.htm
Terry “Definition of Smudge Pot” http://davesgarden.com/terms/go/826/
UW Stout Physics Department “Physics Questions” Smudge Pots
http://physics.uwstout.edu/deptpages/physqz/smudge.htm
Wikipedia “Biodiesel” 1/14/06 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiesel
Wikipedia “Diesel” 1/14/06
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel
Wikipedia “Kerosene” 1/14/06 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerosene
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank the following people for helping make my project
possible:
• My parents for helping me do my experiment.
• Sun Powered Homes and Dan Bowman for without them
my project would not have been possible thank you.
• Mr. Newkirk for guidance and suggestions
• Mrs. Viernes for helping my with my project board.
• My friends for keeping my spirits high.
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