Development of a biofuel lamp and its comparison with a kerosene lamp

Authors

  • N. Chakraborty University of Cape Town
  • S.C. Sarkar

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3051/2008/v19i2a3325

Abstract

An attempt has been made to explore the suitability of crude Jatropha curcas seed oil (biofuel) as a fuel in substituting fully one of the important petroleum products like Kerosene. Expeller is used for the extraction of oil which is further filtered. This crude oil has a very high viscosity and, as result, cannot flow through capillary action in a standard lamp and, hence, requires viscosity reduction by a trans esterification process to convert it into biodiesel or by any other processes. But this is a complex chem-ical reaction and the cost of production becomes almost doubled unless glycerine is not recovered as a by-product. Hence, the paper describes the devel-opment of a unique lamp (lantern) fuelled by 100%biofuel (crude jatropha oil) for its illumination and its comparative performance with respect to a stan-dard kerosene lamp.

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Author Biography

  • N. Chakraborty, University of Cape Town
    Energy Research Centre Snr Research Officer

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Published

2008-05-01

How to Cite

Development of a biofuel lamp and its comparison with a kerosene lamp. (2008). Journal of Energy in Southern Africa, 19(2), 22-24. https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3051/2008/v19i2a3325