The Faculty of Engineering

West Indian Journal of Engineering

Latest Issue

Volume 34: Numbers 1 & 2 - January 2012

Contents

Editorial

The Contribution of the Petroleum Studies Programmes at the UWI to the Local Oil and Gas
Industry. - Richard A. Dawe, Raffie Hosein and Jill Marcelle de Silva. Abstract | View PDF

Transition Probability Matrices and Revealed Comparative Advantage Persistence in a Small
Oil-based Economy. - Damie Sinanan and Roger Hosein. Abstract | View PDF

Modelling and Control of a Water-based System of Multiple Mobile Robots for Unmanned
Rescue. - Md. Mosharrof Hossain Sarker and M. Osman Tokhi. Abstract | View PDF

Effects of High Interest Rate on Technology Implementation in Jamaica. - Maurice G. Fletcher. Abstract | View PDF

Analysing the Strength Parameters of Concrete Manufactured Using Natural and Recycled Guanapo Aggregates. - Abrahams Mwasha and Jason R.F. Lalla. Abstract | View PDF

An Investigation of Methanol-Coconut Oil Fuel Blends in Diesel Engines for Caribbean Power Generation Using Biodiesel as a Co-solvent. - Renique J. Murray, Sharaaz Hosein and Solange Kelly. View PDF

Abstract
The development of alternative fuel sources is a crucial area of research today, in light of diminishing global crude oil reserves and increasing prices of fossil fuels.  This is a critical issue for the countries of the Caribbean, as the small and delicate economies of the region are unable to treat with these price increases indefinitely. Two potential alternative fuel sources for the region, which can utilise diesel engines for power generation, are methanol and coconut oil. However, neither of these achieves optimum performance individually, without engine modification. This work investigates the performance of methanol-coconut oil blends in diesel engines, using coconut oil biodiesel (CME) as a co-solvent. It was found that CME does serve as an effective co-solvent, allowing for the formation of stable blends of up to approximately 30% methanol content by volume. Consequently, six fuels were tested in a diesel engine test unit; diesel, neat CME, neat coconut oil, a coconut oil-CME blend, a blend containing 10% methanol by volume and another containing 30% methanol by volume. It was found that the methanol blends had better engine performance, when compared to neat coconut oil operation. Further, it was found that the methanol blends exhibited similar and even better engine performance than diesel operation, with a BTE of 28.6% for the 30% methanol blend as compared to 22.9% for diesel operation. Consequently, this work proposes that methanol-coconut oil blends using CME as a co-solvent, can serve as potential fuel replacements for diesel in the countries of the Caribbean.

A Hybrid Soft Regulating (Wind-FC-Diesel-Battery) Renewable Energy for Island/Village Utilisation Scheme. - Adel M. Sharaf and Adel A.A. El-Gammal. Abstract | View PDF

Design of an RFID-based Inventory Control and Management System: A Case Study. - Jacky S.L. Ting and Albert H.C. Tsang. Abstract | View PDF

Production and Age-Hardening Behaviour of SiC Reinforced Aluminium Composites
Developed by Modified Stir-Casting Technique. - Kenneth K. Alaneme and Ayotunde O. Aluko. Abstract | View PDF

Hierarchical Evidential Reasoning-based Assessments of New Product Development Strategies. - Kwai Sang Chin and Kit Fai Pun. Abstract | View PDF

Electrical Treeing Diagnostics – An Approach Combining Optical Measurements and
Partial Discharge Statistics. - S. Bahadoorsingh, S. Sambeharry, R. Balliram and C. Sharma. Abstract | View PDF

A Proposed Methodology for Surface Water Quality Management for Sustainable Ecotourism in the Caribbean. - Ken D. Thomas, Erlande Omisca, Joniqua A. Howard and Maya A. Trotz. Abstract | View PDF