Study of Thermal Energy Production by Combustion of Lard and Diesel Mixtures

This work presents the experimental results of lard combustion with diesel for heating. The work is divided into two parts, the first of which deals with the identification of lard as fuels and characterization of diesel, as well as determining the chemical and thermodynamic properties of mixtures of both components. The second part studies the optimum combustion point of lard and oil mixtures in a conventional plant, varying the percentage of lard in mixing, air flow, and injection pressure. 1. Introduction Meat consumption in the European Union entails livestock production of a wide range of species (ovine, porcine, bovine, and caprine). Statistical data for the livestock census in the European Community corresponding to 2005 are shown in Table 1 [1]. Table 1: EU livestock census (millions of animals) in December 2005. This livestock is produced for human consumption. Animals must be sacrificed in specialized facilities, such as slaughterhouses, which are subject to strict health controls. Live animals of the main species of livestock are taken to these facilities to be sacrificed and subsequently processed for human consumption. The process carried out at these facilities involves separating products destined for human consumption and those to be used as animal subproducts not destined for human consumption (ASNDHC), which for commercial, health, and legal reasons must not form part of the food chain. Table 2 provides an estimation of the amount of ASNDHC generated in Spain for the various species per animal sacrificed, calculated on the mean dressed weight [2]. Table 2: Summary of the ASNDHC generated per animal species in Spanish slaughterhouses in 2005. The mad cow disease crisis (bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)) forced the European Union to enforce highly restrictive [3] and stringent legislation regarding the handling of this kind of subproduct, including the possible final use which these products may be put to once transformed. One result of this was for subproducts to be considered waste. The present study aims to demonstrate the possible use of animal subproducts, in particular transformed fats, as fuel sources by mixing them with fossil fuels. Such a mixture would provide a range of benefits.(i)Financial benefits: use of the energy properties of a waste product (transformed animal fat), through its possible use as a biofuel in combustion processes.(ii)Environmental benefits: using renewable energy sources, such as animal-based biomass combined with conventional energy sources, has a lower environmental impact compared to exclusively