Hydrodynamic Cavitation in Shockwave-Power-Reactor-Assisted Biodiesel Production in Continuous from Soybean and Waste Cooking Oil

The transesterification process for biodiesel production is constrained by high thermal input, prolonged residence time, and intensive mechanical agitation. This study investigates process intensification via hydrodynamic cavitation using a custom-built Shockwave Power Reactor (SPR), enabling contin...

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Main Authors: James R. Vera-Rozo, Edison A. Caicedo-Peñaranda, José M. Riesco-Avila
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Energies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/11/2761
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author James R. Vera-Rozo
Edison A. Caicedo-Peñaranda
José M. Riesco-Avila
author_facet James R. Vera-Rozo
Edison A. Caicedo-Peñaranda
José M. Riesco-Avila
author_sort James R. Vera-Rozo
collection DOAJ
description The transesterification process for biodiesel production is constrained by high thermal input, prolonged residence time, and intensive mechanical agitation. This study investigates process intensification via hydrodynamic cavitation using a custom-built Shockwave Power Reactor (SPR), enabling continuous biodiesel synthesis from soybean and used cooking oils. A statistically designed experimental matrix was applied to evaluate the reactor’s transient–stable thermal regime and the influence of operational parameters: rotor speed (1700–3415 rpm), volumetric flow rate (60–105 mL/min), methanol-to-oil molar ratio (6:1 to 12:1), and alkali catalyst type (NaOH or KOH). For benchmarking, conventional alkaline transesterification was optimized. The FAME yields from the SPR system exceeded 96.5% and complied with EN14103 standards. Specific energy analysis showed that cavitation-enhanced transesterification reduced energy consumption and peak temperature compared to traditional methods. The SPR’s capacity to induce high shear and localized turbulence under controlled cavitation offers a promising pathway for low-energy, scalable biodiesel production.
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spelling doaj-art-e659a28eccd54ef4b75cb3132d13b1f32025-08-20T02:22:56ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-05-011811276110.3390/en18112761Hydrodynamic Cavitation in Shockwave-Power-Reactor-Assisted Biodiesel Production in Continuous from Soybean and Waste Cooking OilJames R. Vera-Rozo0Edison A. Caicedo-Peñaranda1José M. Riesco-Avila2GIMUP, Mechanical Engineering Program, University of Pamplona, Pamplona 543050, ColombiaGISE, Electrical Engineering Program, University of Pamplona, Pamplona 543050, ColombiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Guanajuato, Salamanca 36885, MexicoThe transesterification process for biodiesel production is constrained by high thermal input, prolonged residence time, and intensive mechanical agitation. This study investigates process intensification via hydrodynamic cavitation using a custom-built Shockwave Power Reactor (SPR), enabling continuous biodiesel synthesis from soybean and used cooking oils. A statistically designed experimental matrix was applied to evaluate the reactor’s transient–stable thermal regime and the influence of operational parameters: rotor speed (1700–3415 rpm), volumetric flow rate (60–105 mL/min), methanol-to-oil molar ratio (6:1 to 12:1), and alkali catalyst type (NaOH or KOH). For benchmarking, conventional alkaline transesterification was optimized. The FAME yields from the SPR system exceeded 96.5% and complied with EN14103 standards. Specific energy analysis showed that cavitation-enhanced transesterification reduced energy consumption and peak temperature compared to traditional methods. The SPR’s capacity to induce high shear and localized turbulence under controlled cavitation offers a promising pathway for low-energy, scalable biodiesel production.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/11/2761cavitationbiodieselhydrodynamic cavitationrotor–stator reactorSPR
spellingShingle James R. Vera-Rozo
Edison A. Caicedo-Peñaranda
José M. Riesco-Avila
Hydrodynamic Cavitation in Shockwave-Power-Reactor-Assisted Biodiesel Production in Continuous from Soybean and Waste Cooking Oil
Energies
cavitation
biodiesel
hydrodynamic cavitation
rotor–stator reactor
SPR
title Hydrodynamic Cavitation in Shockwave-Power-Reactor-Assisted Biodiesel Production in Continuous from Soybean and Waste Cooking Oil
title_full Hydrodynamic Cavitation in Shockwave-Power-Reactor-Assisted Biodiesel Production in Continuous from Soybean and Waste Cooking Oil
title_fullStr Hydrodynamic Cavitation in Shockwave-Power-Reactor-Assisted Biodiesel Production in Continuous from Soybean and Waste Cooking Oil
title_full_unstemmed Hydrodynamic Cavitation in Shockwave-Power-Reactor-Assisted Biodiesel Production in Continuous from Soybean and Waste Cooking Oil
title_short Hydrodynamic Cavitation in Shockwave-Power-Reactor-Assisted Biodiesel Production in Continuous from Soybean and Waste Cooking Oil
title_sort hydrodynamic cavitation in shockwave power reactor assisted biodiesel production in continuous from soybean and waste cooking oil
topic cavitation
biodiesel
hydrodynamic cavitation
rotor–stator reactor
SPR
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/11/2761
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AT edisonacaicedopenaranda hydrodynamiccavitationinshockwavepowerreactorassistedbiodieselproductionincontinuousfromsoybeanandwastecookingoil
AT josemriescoavila hydrodynamiccavitationinshockwavepowerreactorassistedbiodieselproductionincontinuousfromsoybeanandwastecookingoil