Evaluation of Diethyl Ether (DEE) as a Renewable Transport Fuel in Sudan

This study was conducted to investigate physicochemical properties, copper corrosion test and test the diesel engine performance of diethyl ether diesel blend fuel. With aid of distillation characteristic, the blends percentage were selected as DEE5%, DEE10, DEE15 and DEE20%. Stabinger Viscometer apparatus was used to determine the Kinematic viscosities, Digital Density Analyzer was used to determine the densities. ASTM D 4737 – 03 Test Method are used to determined calculated Cetane index. Copper strip corrosion device was used to determine corrosiveness of copper from diesel and DEE diesel blends. A single cylinder, four stroke diesel engines, mounted on a moving frame was used to conduct the engine test. From the study result we found that that blends physicochemical properties improved with diethyl ether ratio increased in the blends. While Cetane Index increased with diethyl ether ratio increased. At the higher load, the best result of Break thermal efficiency found at DEE10%, where at the low load, the best mechanical efficiency found at DEE5%, DEE15% and DEE20 and at the higher load, the best mechanical efficiency found at DEE20%, on other hand at the low load, the best specific fuel consumption found at DEE15%, While at the higher load the best specific fuel consumption found at DEE10%. Due to availability of diethyl ether in Sudan, diethyl ether can be used up to 10% in diesel blend with no further changed in diesel engine design, and this can be contributed to overcome the diesel fuel crisis in Sudan, but further information and studies are needed for diethyl ether transportation and blending facilities, beside study the effect the addition of diethyl ether on diesel price.