Week 8: Preliminary Tests Completed

This week, we successfully implemented the first preliminary tests using our final calorimeter design. This design, as pictured, incorporates a self-made spirit burner, surrounded by a cutout tin can. On top of that tin can is another tin can that holds water. This model includes a styrofoam housing for insulation. The bottom tin can’s role is to protect the styrofoam from possibly melting in the case that the fire somehow comes into contact with the styrafoam.

The styrofoam has a cutout on the side. The purpose of this cutout is to allow oxygen to flow to the wick and allow for the combustion reaction to occur. Originally, the we had thought it may be possible to burn the biodiesel in a sealed container, based on the theory that there may be enough oxygen in the container to allow for a temporary burn. However, our testing has found that combustion ceases within seconds of sealing the lid. 

While we originally wanted to have the container completely sealed to allow for maximum insulation, our experiments have concluded that it is not possible with the current design. Thus, we experimented with various sized openings in the lower portion of the styrofoam container to find the smallest hole possible that would allow for the biodiesel to burn with a strong flame.

Next week, we expect to be able to carry out the main part of the experiment, determining energy content of biodiesel, completely.

This image displays our final calorimeter design during preliminary tests. The original cutout was larger, but we made it as small as possible to decrease the escape of energy. We also found that a smaller opening noticeably hinders the burn rate.