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At
DFR, we understand that the straight vegetable oil (SVO) fuel systems
are not for everyone. It requires a fair bit of your time money to power
your vehicle with waste oil. No matter how beneficial or justifiable the
effort may be, some people just haven’t got the time or resources
to deal with SVO fuel systems. For those people, and all of us, there
is Biodiesel. (the following information was provided by the National
Biodiesel Board)
What is Biodiesel?
Biodiesel is the name of a clean burning alternative fuel,
produced from domestic, renewable resources. Biodiesel contains no petroleum,
but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel
blend. It can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines with little
or no modifications. Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic,
and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics. Is Biodiesel the same thing
as raw vegetable oil? No! Biodiesel is produced from any fat or oil such
as soybean oil, through a refinery process called transesterification.
This process is a reaction of the oil with an alcohol to remove the glycerin,
which is a by-product of biodiesel production. Fuel-grade biodiesel must
be produced to strict industry specifications (ASTM D6751) in order to
insure proper performance. Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to have
fully completed the health effects testing requirements of the 1990 Clean
Air Act Amendments. Biodiesel that meets ASTM D6751 and is legally registered
with the Environmental Protection Agency is a legal motor fuel for sale
and distribution. Raw vegetable oil cannot meet biodiesel fuel specifications,
it is not registered with the EPA, and it is not a legal motor fuel. For
entities seeking to adopt a definition of biodiesel for purposes such
as federal or state statute, state or national divisions of weights and
measures, or for any other purpose, the official definition consistent
with other federal and state laws and Original Equipment Manufacturer
(OEM) guidelines is as follows:
Biodiesel is defined as mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived
from vegetable oils or animal fats which conform to ASTM D6751 specifications
for use in diesel engines. Biodiesel refers to the pure fuel before blending
with diesel fuel. Biodiesel blends are denoted as, "BXX" with
"XX" representing the percentage of biodiesel contained in the
blend (ie: B20 is 20% biodiesel, 80% petroleum diesel). Is biodiesel used
as a pure fuel or is it blended with petroleum diesel? Biodiesel can be
used as a pure fuel or blended with petroleum in any percentage. B20 (a
blend of 20 percent by volume biodiesel with 80 percent by volume petroleum
diesel) has demonstrated significant environmental benefits with a minimum
increase in cost for fleet operations and other consumers. Is it approved
for use in the US? 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). Neat
(100 percent) biodiesel has been designated as an alternative fuel by
the Department of Energy (DOE) and the US Department of Transportation
(DOT).
How do biodiesel emissions
compare to petroleum diesel?
Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed
the health effects testing requirements of the Clean Air Act. The use
of biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine results in substantial reduction
of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter compared
to emissions from diesel fuel. In addition, the exhaust emissions of sulfur
oxides and sulfates (major components of acid rain) from biodiesel are
essentially eliminated compared to diesel. Of the major exhaust pollutants,
both unburned hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides are ozone or smog forming
precursors. The use of biodiesel results in a substantial reduction of
unburned hydrocarbons. Emissions of nitrogen oxides are either slightly
reduced or slightly increased depending on the duty cycle of the engine
and testing methods used. Based on engine testing, using the most stringent
emissions testing protocols required by EPA for certification of fuels
or fuel additives in the US, the overall ozone forming potential of the
speciated hydrocarbon emissions from biodiesel was nearly 50 percent less
than that measured for diesel fuel. Does biodiesel cost more than other
alternative fuels? When reviewing the high costs associated with other
alternative fuel systems, many fleet managers have determined biodiesel
is their least-cost-strategy to comply with state and federal regulations.
Use of biodiesel does not require major engine modifications. That means
operators keep their fleets, their spare parts inventories, their refueling
stations and their skilled mechanics. The only thing that changes is air
quality. Do I need special storage facilities? In general, the standard
storage and handling procedures used for petroleum diesel can be used
for biodiesel. The fuel should be stored in a clean, dry, dark environment.
Acceptable storage tank materials include aluminum, steel, fluorinated
polyethylene, fluorinated polypropylene and teflon. Copper, brass, lead,
tin, and zinc should be avoided. Can I use biodiesel in my existing diesel
engine? Biodiesel can be operated in any diesel engine with little or
no modification to the engine or the fuel system. Biodiesel has a solvent
effect that may release deposits accumulated on tank walls and pipes from
previous diesel fuel storage. The release of deposits may clog filters
initially and precautions should be taken. Ensure that only fuel meeting
the biodiesel specification is used. Where can I purchase biodiesel? Biodiesel
can be made available anywhere in the US. The National Biodiesel Board
(NBB) maintains a list of registered fuel marketers. A current list is
available on the biodiesel web site at www.biodiesel.org
or by calling the NBB at (800) 841-5849. Who can answer my questions about
biodiesel? The NBB maintains the largest library of biodiesel information
in the US. Information can be requested by visiting the biodiesel web
site at www.biodiesel.org,
by emailing the NBB at info@nbb.org,
or by calling NBB’s toll free number (800) 841-5849.
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