Case study: plant design to obtain a diesel-like fuel from soybean oil cracking for decentralised energy generation to Brazilian isolated communities

ABSTRACT Based on Brazilian isolated communities’ situation about absence energy distribution, mainly in the Amazon, northeastern semi-arid and isolated regions of the Savana, some alternatives should be developed to produce electric power for energy supply. Looking for the capacities and sources of these communities, the oilseed production capacity is the most promised. So, a easy to handle pilot plant for cracking oils and fats was developed to produce biofuels. This study aimed to analyse the mass and energy balances of the pilot plant to check its viability for sustainable energy supply. For this, three different cracking temperatures (663 K, 678 K and 693 K) were studied, and reaction data was collected. The physicochemical properties are similar to those of petroleum diesel, indicating that thermal cracking fuel may be a viable alternative to this fossil fuel in diesel cycle engines. The best temperature for the cracking reaction was 678 K, due to the physicochemical parameters of the biofuel produced being similar to those of fossil diesel. So, according to energy production system, the cracking temperatures 678 and 693 K are recommended.