Is Pyrolysis Oil Usable as Fuel for Cars or Vehicles?

Pyrolysis oil, produced through thermal decomposition of waste materials like tires and plastics, isn’t suitable for direct use in automobiles or motor vehicles. This is largely due to its chemical composition, relatively high viscosity, and the presence of impurities. However, it does have significant potential in other areas.

Waste pyrolysis oil

Characteristics of Pyrolysis Oil

Pyrolysis oil, often referred to as crude oil, is derived from the direct cracking of waste materials without further refining. At normal pressure and 15℃, its density is 0.9146g/cm³, and its total calorific value reaches 44.32MJ/kg. Compared to conventional automotive fuels, pyrolysis oil exhibits the following characteristics:

Chemical Composition: Pyrolysis oil contains a high proportion of resins, cycloalkanes, and aromatics. The elevated aromatic content tends to lower fuel quality, cause incomplete combustion, increase fine particulate emissions in exhaust, and negatively impact air quality.

Viscosity: The high viscosity of pyrolysis oil can lead to suboptimal atomization and fluidity in engines, resulting in operational instability and carbon buildup, which limits its direct application in automotive and internal combustion engines.

Impurities: Pyrolysis oil contains certain impurities, such as sulfur compounds and water. These can corrode engine components and affect vehicle performance.

Characteristics of pyrolysis oil

Application Scope of Pyrolysis Oil

Given its characteristics, pyrolysis oil isn’t suitable for direct use in vehicles. However, it can be applied in the following areas:

Industrial Fuel: Pyrolysis oil can be sold directly as fuel oil to industrial facilities like glass factories, cement plants, power plants, and steel mills. Its high calorific value makes it ideal for meeting energy demands in industrial production.

Heavy Oil Generators: Pyrolysis oil can function as fuel for heavy oil generators, providing power support in specialized scenarios.

Application scope of pyrolysis oil

Refining Pyrolysis Oil into Automotive Fuel

While pyrolysis oil can’t be used directly in vehicles, advanced refining processes can convert it into automotive fuel. DOING Company offers a waste oil distillation plant capable of upgrading pyrolysis oil into diesel fuel. Here’s an overview of the refining process and the performance of the refined diesel:

Distillation Process: The distillation plant heats pyrolysis oil, separating it into components based on boiling points. Components with boiling points similar to diesel are collected and undergo additional purification steps to eliminate contaminants and detrimental elements.

Diesel Performance: The refined diesel shows marked improvements in quality compared to pyrolysis oil. Its viscosity, sulfur content, cetane number, and other critical properties align closely with standard diesel specifications, enabling its use in agricultural machinery, large ships, and other equipment.

Application Precautions: Even when refined into non-standard diesel, DOING Company advises against using it directly in small family cars. The engineering team can provide customers with specific blending ratios and usage recommendations based on actual conditions.

Usages of pyrolysis oil refined diesel

In summary, pyrolysis oil isn’t suitable for direct use in automobiles or motor vehicles due to its chemical and physical properties. However, it holds substantial value in industrial applications and can be upgraded into usable diesel fuel through advanced refining technologies. If you have questions about pyrolysis oil or its refining processes, please feel free to contact DOING Company. Our professional team will provide you with technical solutions and support tailored to your needs.