Alternative fuels and their potentials for tractor engines

Authors

  • Fatai Bukola Akande Department of biological and Agric. Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, DE Malaysia
  • Oluawatoyin Oluwole Oniya Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria
  • Donald Adgidzi Department of Agricultural Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Tech. Ogbomoso, Nigeria

Keywords:

Keywords, alternative fuels, compressed natural gas engine, tractor diesel engine, fuel-engine systems, vehicle performance characteristics, vehicle emission characteristics

Abstract

The entire world is aware of the adverse effect of global warming as a result of depletion of the ozone layer and the greenhouse gas (GHG) effect.  This study takes a critical look on the review of already existing alternative fuels that produce less emission or no emission at all.  The advantages of the alternative fuels are highlighted and exhaustively discussed.  The types of fuel engine systems are also discussed.  The possibility of using compressed natural gas (CNG) as an alternative fuel in tractor engines and other agricultural machines is investigated in terms of power generation, fuel economic indices and engine system dynamics.  Based on the study, CNG is more economical and can be used to power tractor engine with a reduced frequency of maintenance and it is more environmental friendly.

 Keywords: alternative fuels, compressed natural gas engine, tractor diesel engine, fuel-engine systems, vehicle performance characteristics, vehicle emission characteristics

Author Biography

Fatai Bukola Akande, Department of biological and Agric. Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, DE Malaysia

I am a Senior Lecturer in the department of Agricultural Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso Nigeria

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Published

2013-11-27

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 4 (2013): CIGR Journal

Section

IV-Energy in Agriculture