The North Dakota "Flower Power" Project
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Date
1982
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Publisher
North Dakota State University
Abstract
Description
The authors give background into research on sunflowers as an alternate fuel source for farm production. The entity 'Flower Power, Inc' is discussed, it's history, it's efforts and several tests that it performed. This 'on farm' testing is discussed. The sunflower oil used for these tests had fuel blends with an alkali which was refined and winterized. Up to a 50% blend of sunflower oil could be used for diesel. If this alternative oil were continuously used, it appeared that premature engine wear would be resultant.Engine deposits might result from poorly atomized fuel caused by the high viscosity of sunflower oil. Varnish-like deposits occur due to the chemical makeup of sunflower oil typically grown in North Dakota. At this writing, the use of sunflower was not yet recommended for usage in farm applications.