Light and heavy phases derived from waste polyethylene by thermal cracking and their usage as fuel in DI diesel engine

Recycled fuels have been receiving great attention in order to supply energy recovery especially from waste products. An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the use of fuels produced from waste polyethylene (WPE) as an internal combustion engine fuel. Waste Polyethylene (WPE) was degraded thermally for conversion. The fuel collected at optimum conditions (414-480 °C range and 2 h reaction time) was fractionated at different temperatures and fuel property of the fractions was evaluated. The volatile fractions and the residue part of WPE final product are called as light phase (LP) and heavy phase (HP), respectively. Light Phase and Heavy Phase were blended with diesel fuel (D) at the volumetric ratios of 5%, 10%, 15%, %20 and 100%. Fuel properties of plastic oils and their blends with diesel fuel were stated. On the other hand, performance and emission characteristics of 5% waste fuel-Diesel fuel were evaluated. The WPE fuels were compared with the diesel fuel. Although the pour points of waste fuels have been concluded as a disadvantage, it is found that they can also be used as recycled-fuel in compression ignition engines by blending them with diesel fuel in order to reduce fossil fuel usage