3.2.3 Ternary phase diagrams of ternary blends on PP, CFPP, and CP
Ternary phase diagrams were cleverly used to visualize the relationship
of PP, CFPP, and CP with the blending ratios of BWCO-ET-DDCL and
BWCO-BT-DDCL ternary blends. Isotherms of CFPP, PP and CP of
BWCO-ET-DDCL and BWCO-BT-DDCL systems at temperatures of 0 °C, −10 °C,
and −20 °C in the ternary phase diagrams were comparatively investigated
and are presented in Figure 3.
Comparative results of BWCO-BT-DDCL (Figs.3B, 3D, and 3F) and
BWCO-ET-DDCL (Figs. 3A, 3C, and 3E) blends show that BT together with
DDCL more effectively improve the PP, CFPP, and CP of biodiesel than ET.
The data depicted in Figure 3B show that, when ternary blends contain at
least 75 vol.% BWCO and less than 15 vol.% BT, their CFPP values are
greater than 0 °C. Similarly, blends containing 30 vol.% to 90 vol.%
BWCO and less than 70 vol.% DDCL have an excellent CFPP ranging from 0
°C to −10 °C. Both of them occupy relatively narrow ranges of
temperature compared with that of BWCO-ET-DDCL. Blends containing 7
vol.% to 50 vol.% BWCO and no more than 88 vol.% DDCL with an
excellent CFPP can be used in low temperature areas (−10 °C to −20 °C).
Otherwise, better CFPP below −20 °C can be possibly reached for ternary
blends containing up to 15 vol.% BWCO, and such fuels can be used in
extremely cold regions of China.
However, Figure 3 also shows that isotherms of PP, CFPP, and CP of
BWCO-ET-DDCL and BWCO-BT-DDCL ternary blends have similarly varying
tendencies. The areas of ternary blends with PP of −20 °C and below are
wider than those of CP and CFPP, whereas the range of CP (greater than 0
°C) is the widest. Furthermore, the ranges of CP, CFPP, and PP between
−10 °C and 0 °C constitute the largest areas in the ternary phase
diagrams.
Figure 3. Isotherms of CFPP, PP and CP of BWCO-ET-DDCL (A, C
and E) and BWCO-BT-DDCL (B, D and F) systems at temperatures of 0 °C,
−10 °C, and −20 °C.