Fatty acid distillate as an alternative boiler fuel. (November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Siyal, Ahmer Ali; Low, Aaron; Shamsuddin, Rashid
• Is Part Of: Energy reports. Volume 7(2021)
• Page Start: 8688
• Page End: 8698
• Publication Date: 2021-11
• Subjects: Edible oil refining -- Alternative boiler fuels -- Fatty acid distillate -- Energy -- Cost estimation; Power resources -- Periodicals; Energy industries -- Periodicals; Power resources; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 621.04205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.egyr.2021.11.141
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-4847

Abstract

Abstract: This paper investigated the use of fatty acid distillate (FAD) produced as a by-product of edible oil refining as a fuel source for boilers. Using a diesel heater to model the combustion chamber of a fire tube boiler showed that diesel blends with FAD up to 60% could be used with different levels of preheating. A small to medium sized edible oil refinery was used to generate an economic model. It was estimated that an edible oil refinery of this size required a boiler able to supply 3 GJ/h of energy. In this situation, the FAD produced could provide approximately 57% of the yearly energy requirements for the boiler. An economic analysis revealed that using FAD (42 MJ/kg) as fuel will increase its value from New Zealand Dollar ($) 0.425/kg to approximately $1.30–1.55/kg depending on the cost of standard boiler fuel. Running the boiler on LPG ($30/GJ) or diesel ($37.7/GJ) was estimated to cost $960, 000 and $1, 200, 000 respectively per year. If all the FAD was used as alternative fuel to provide 57% of the yearly energy, then up to $700, 000 could be saved each year.