Production of Medium Chain Fatty Acid Ethyl Ester, Combustion, and Its Gas emission using a Small-Scale Gas Turbine Jet Engine

Refined palm kernel oil was trans-esterified with ethanol to produce fatty acid ethyl esters. The medium-chain fatty acid ethyl ester (bio-kerosene) was fractionated from the bottom fraction and was characterized for its properties as well as lubricity. The heat of combustion was reported at 38.32 MJ/kg which was 11.09% lower than fossil kerosene. Combustion testing in a small-scale gas-turbine jet engine was investigated without engine modification. The optimum thrust-specific fuel consumption was reported for 0.99 L/kJ at 102,200 rpm. The exhaust gas characteristic was superior to fossil kerosene due to lower emission of CO, hydrocarbon, and NO₂.