The idea that has conditioning this paper was the use of biofuel based on rapeseed oil on a medium-power diesel engine, alternative power supply being used, both as with diesel fuel and with rapeseed oil mixed with diesel in various proportions. This paper presents experimental results on a diesel engine effective power and torque performance of fueled with fuels based on rapeseed oil compared with diesel fuel. Fuels used in experimental research were mixtures of rapeseed oil, rapeseed methyl ester and diesel in different proportions: 80% diesel fuel - 20% rapeseed oil, 50% diesel fuel - 50% rapeseed oil, 25%diesel fuel - 75 % rapeseed oil, 100% rapeseed oil, 100% rapeseed methyl ester (RME) and 100% diesel fuel as (reference fuel). Because the researches were focused on the use of fuels derived from rapeseed oil on the existing Romanian engines, the work initially focused on those factors that do not involve changes or adjustments to diesel engine. International researches conducted so far have highlighted the effective power and torque performance differences of fuels based on rapeseed oil in comparison with diesel fuel. In Romania there have been intensive studies on different biofuels used in diesel engines. BIOCOMB consortium of the Technical University of Cluj- Napoca in collaboration with University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, from the researches made ​​possible that Cluj- Napoca to be the first city in the country where buses fueled with biodiesel from from rapeseed oil. The novelty of these experiments refers to the fuel blends used in the experimental tests and to the importance of results of effective power and engine torque performance. Practical implications of the work are found in the immediate applicability in the possibility of increasing the performance of agricultural tractors powered by biofuels and also open new directions in applied research on ways of streamlining the use of biofuels. The theme and direction of approach in this paper represents an innovation in the field of national research. Results and conclusions issued in the work are possible due to the support of the research project co-funded by the European Social Fund through Sectoral Operational Programme Human Resources Development 2007-2013.

rapeseed oil; rapeseed metyl ester; diesel fuel; effective power; torque;

Presentation: oral