Biodiesel
1 The Diesel Engine
2 Theory of Vegetable Oil Use as a
Fuel
3 Engine suitability
4 Heating the Oil
5 Biodiesel
6 Micro Emulsions and Blends
7 Vegetable Oil Engine Design
8 Vegetable Oil Furnaces and Heaters
9 Oil Types and Filtering
10 Taxation
11 Implications of Vegetable Oil
Fuel Use
12 Sources
Biodiesel is a term used mainly for vegetable oil that that
has been thinned through a process called transesterification.
Biodiesel has proven to bee suitable for use in any diesel
engine. Problems can occur with the fuel thickening at temperatures
above that at which diesel fuel can operate. These can be
addressed in a similar manner as is used for diesel fuel cold
weather operation. Biodiesel is a good solvent and has proven
to deteriorate rubber so rubber components of a fuel delivery
system have to be replaced with items made from a suitable
synthetic material. Most European vehicles are now manufactured
without rubber components but it is good practice to check
with a vehicles manufacturer to ensure that all rubber components
are identified before biodiesel is used on a long term basis.
Biodiesel can be produced from both vegetable and animal
oils and fats including those of a quality that may not be
suitable for Diesel engine fuel use otherwise.
Biodiesel is produced when vegetable oil is mixed with an
alcohol and a catalyst and the transesterification chemical
reaction occurs. The alcohol replaces the glycerin in the
vegetable oil molecule to produce a thinner oil and glycerin.
The glycerin is then allowed to settle out. Often the biodiesel
is water washed to extract any remaining glycerin or other
impurities. Biodiesel production gives by products of waste
water and glycerin.
The reaction is not hard to replicate although problems can
be encountered with the reaction, especially when using oils
or fats of a lower quality. Also the favoured alcohol, methanol,
is potentially hazardous and care has to be taken with its
use. Commercially available methanol is synthesised from natural
gas.
Biodiesel has however been thoroughly developed and is in
use worldwide. Much information is readily available about
its properties and manufacture.
There are numerous variations of biodiesel production each
has its own inherent advantages and disadvantages. The availability
of equipment and chemicals, level of technical knowledge,
desired quality and quantity of end product and type oil feedstock
are all factors that need considering when deciding the most
appropriate production method.
A slight change of fuel delivery timing in a diesel engine
will act to bring improvements in emissions when fuelled with
biodiesel. This however will have detrimental effects when
burning fossil diesel.
1 The Diesel Engine
2 Theory of Vegetable Oil Use as a
Fuel
3 Engine suitability
4 Heating the Oil
5 Biodiesel
6 Micro Emulsions and Blends
7 Vegetable Oil Engine Design
8 Vegetable Oil Furnaces and Heaters
9 Oil Types and Filtering
10 Taxation
11 Implications of Vegetable Oil
Fuel Use
12 Sources
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