What is Biodesel?
How is Biodiesel made?
What modifications are necessary for am engine to run on Biodiesel?
How can Biodiesel so easily substitute Petroleum Diesel?
Can it be mixed with diesel?
Benefits of using biodiesel – Environmental, Economical, Health & Machanical.
How does the performance of Biodiesel compare to Petroleum Diesel.
Is Biodiesel an approved and recognized fuel?
Is Biodiesel used internationally?
Is Biodiesel expensive?
Can I make Biodiesel at Home?
How can Biodiesel benefit Trinidad & Tobago?
Biodiesel
Dr. Rudolph Diesel & The Diesel Engine
Dr. Rudolf Diesel actually invented the diesel engine to run on a myriad of fuels including coal dust suspended in water, heavy mineral oil, and, you guessed it, vegetable oil. Dr. Diesel’s first engine experiments were catastrophic failures. But by the time he showed his engine at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900, his engine was running on 100% peanut oil. Dr. Diesel was visionary.
In 1911 he stated “The diesel engine can be fed with vegetable oils and would help considerably in the development of agriculture of the countries which use it.” In 1912, Diesel said, “The use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may seem insignificant today. But such oils may become in course of time as important as petroleum and the coal tar products of the present time.” Since Dr. Diesel’s untimely death in 1913, his engine has been modified to run on the polluting petroleum fuel we now know as “diesel.” Nevertheless, his ideas on agriculture and his invention provide the foundation for a society fueled with clean, renewable, locally grown fuel.
What is Biodesel?
Biodiesel is a fuel made from vegetable oil that runs in any diesel engine. Biodiesel can be made from any vegetable oil including oils pressed straight from the seed (virgin oils) such as soy, sunflower, canola, coconut and hemp. Biodiesel can also be made from recycled cooking oils from fast food restaurants. Even animal fats like beef tallow and fish oil can be used to make biodiesel fuel. While biodiesel may sound like something from the movie “Back to the Future,” its use dates back over 100 years to the invention of the diesel engine.
How is Biodiesel made?
The process of converting vegetable oil into biodiesel fuel is called transesterification and is less complex than it sounds. Chemically, transesterification means taking a complex fatty acid (or triglyceride molecule), neutralizing the free fatty acids, removing the glycerin, and creating an alcohol ester. This is accomplished by mixing methanol (wood alcohol) with lye (sodium hydroxide) to make sodium methoxide. This liquid is then mixed into vegetable oil with caution. The entire mixture then settles. Glycerin is left on the bottom and methyl esters, or biodiesel, is left on top. The glycerin can then be used to make soap (or any one of 1,600 other products) and the Biodiesel (methyl esters) is washed and filtered. The resulting biodiesel fuel when used directly in a Diesel engine will burn up to 75% cleaner than petroleum diesel fuel.
What modifications are necessary for am engine to run on Biodiesel?
None. Biodiesel runs in any conventional, unmodified diesel engine. No engine modifications are necessary to use biodiesel and there is no “engine conversion.” In other words, “you just pour it into the fuel tank.”
However Biodiesel has a solvent effect that may release deposits accumulated in tank walls and pipes from previous use of Petroleum Diesel; this may make it necessary to change filters after first switching to Biodiesel. Additionally older vehicles may find it necessary to change fuel lines as Biodiesel may dissolve certain types of rubber that may have been used (This cost is minimal).
How can Biodiesel so easily substitute Petroleum Diesel?
The diesel engine can run on Biodiesel because it operates on the principle of compression ignition whereby air is compressed and then fuel is sprayed into the ultra-hot, ultra-pressured combustion chamber. Unlike gasoline engines which use a spark to ignite the fuel/air mixture, diesel engines actually use fuel to ignite hot air. This simple process allows the diesel engine to run on thick fuels. Since Biodiesel is chemically similar to petroleum diesel fuel, you can pour Biodiesel right into the fuel tank of any diesel vehicle.
Can it be mixed with diesel?
Biodiesel can be used alone or mixed in any amount with petroleum diesel fuel. A 20% blend of biodiesel with diesel fuel is called “B20,” a 5% blend is called “B5” and so on.
Benefits of using biodiesel – Environmental, Economical, Health & Machanical.
Biodiesel decreases Carbon Dioxide emissions by 100% & aids in reversing Global Warming.
Does not emit Sulphur Dioxide like Petroleum Diesel, Sulphur Dioxide causes Acid Rain.
Produces 20 times less Carbon Monoxide and more free Oxygen.
The burning of Biodiesel is less harmful to human health than Petroleum Diesel.
Biodiesel is the only renewable fuel to have fully completed the health testing requirements of the Clean Air Act
Biodiesel is safe and non-toxic.
The production of Biodiesel opens up an immense agricultural market for vegetable oils.
Stabilizes the energy sector of a country making it dependant upon no-one for petroleum fuel.
Increases the life of the diesel engine.
How does the performance of Biodiesel compare to Petroleum Diesel.
Engines running on biodiesel run normally and have similar fuel mileage to engines running on diesel fuel. Auto ignition, fuel consumption, power output, and engine torque are relatively unaffected by biodiesel.
Is Biodiesel an approved and recognized fuel?
Biodiesel is registered as a fuel and fuel additive with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and meets clean diesel standards established by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). 100% Biodiesel has been designated as an alternative fuel by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
Is Biodiesel used internationally?
Biodiesel is used internationally in many countries including France, England, USA, South-Pacific, and Germany just to name a few. Germany is the largest producer and user of Biodiesel & all Petroleum Diesel in France is mixed with 5% Biodiesel. Additionally Biodiesel is used by US buses, trucking companies, NAVY, ARMY and Marines.
Is Biodiesel expensive?
In most cases Biodiesel is cost competitive with Petroleum Diesel except when Petroleum Diesel is heavily subsidized. In this case it is to the governments benefit to subsidize the Biodiesel industry. Additionally, small-scale Biodiesel producers can use recycled vegetable oil to decrease costs.
Does the use of Biodiesel void the Warranty of my engine?
The use of biodiesel in existing diesel engines does not void parts and materials
workmanship warranties of any major engine manufacturer.
Can I make Biodiesel at Home?
Yes. However be sure to do sufficient research before attempting domestic production.
How can Biodiesel benefit Trinidad & Tobago?
By using Biodiesel in Trinidad not only will our environment be cleaner, healthier, and aid in reversing Global Warming, but it will also create a large market for virgin plant oils thus boosting the agricultural sector. Additionally it will make our energy sector self sustainable and not dependant upon petroleum fuels, therefore when the inevitable skyrocketing of petroleum prices occurs the economy will only benefit from petroleum exports while our local energy sector will be unaffected running on Biodiesel. The creation of a local Biodiesel industry will immensely better our environment, health, ecomonomy and standard of living.
Where can I get more information?
www.biodieselamerica.org / www.biodiesel.org / www.journeytoforever.com / www.hempcar.org / www.veggievan.org / www.mystichemp.com / Search; Biodiesel …
Contact Troy Hadeed; (868)683-4713 / mystichemp@hotmail.com |
