Tom Carpenter explains how he filters vegetable oil to make biodiesel fuel.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
How to Make Biodiesel Fuel at Home?
I found great videos about making biodiesel fuel at home. Please watch the video below:
Friday, May 30, 2008
Biodiesel Fuel Costs and Approaches to Reduce It
People might think that since biodiesel is made from waste oil, biodiesel fuel costs are not high. The answer is both yes and no. the production of biodiesel may even pose a serious threat to the environment because the production is not concerning waste oil anymore. The production of biodiesel needs feedstock and there are many countries that make farmlands at the expense of rainforests.
Biodiesel is a type of fuel that is used in diesel powered vehicles. It cannot be used 100% but it is used in blends which are categorized by the B Factor, which has something to do with the blend. If a biodiesel blend is 20%, then it is called B20.
A board called the Energy Information Administration has introduced a process that will help guide producers of biodiesel become more effective in terms of management of biodiesel fuel costs. The main component in determining the biodiesel fuel costs is the feedstock cost. The feedstock is the main source if the oil that is converted into a biodiesel fuel. It has been said the yellow grease is the cheapest source of biodiesel fuel but the production of this source is limited. Typically, yellow grease’s main function is an additive to animal feeds.
Another feedstock used for the production of biodiesel fuel is soybean oil and it also plays a crucial role in biodiesel fuel costs. This is being addressed by forecasting the amount of soybean oil that will be used in the production of biodiesel year in and year out. However, we should all be aware that the more farmlands we create, the more hazard we will create for the environment if the farmlands used are sacrificing rainforests.
Biodiesel is a type of fuel that is used in diesel powered vehicles. It cannot be used 100% but it is used in blends which are categorized by the B Factor, which has something to do with the blend. If a biodiesel blend is 20%, then it is called B20.
A board called the Energy Information Administration has introduced a process that will help guide producers of biodiesel become more effective in terms of management of biodiesel fuel costs. The main component in determining the biodiesel fuel costs is the feedstock cost. The feedstock is the main source if the oil that is converted into a biodiesel fuel. It has been said the yellow grease is the cheapest source of biodiesel fuel but the production of this source is limited. Typically, yellow grease’s main function is an additive to animal feeds.
Another feedstock used for the production of biodiesel fuel is soybean oil and it also plays a crucial role in biodiesel fuel costs. This is being addressed by forecasting the amount of soybean oil that will be used in the production of biodiesel year in and year out. However, we should all be aware that the more farmlands we create, the more hazard we will create for the environment if the farmlands used are sacrificing rainforests.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Uses of Biodiesel Automobile Fuel
Biodiesel Automobile Fuel has gained its practical use and popularity since its conception in 1937 by G. Chavannes. It is now used worldwide in major transportation vehicles such as trucks, buses, and trains. Biodiesel in itself is cost effective and it has found its way even in factories and home heaters.
Biodiesel is made of animal and plant oils. This is then mixed with alcohol or glycerol and this is converted to what is known as Biodiesel Automobile Fuel. It has many blends and the way they are categorized are through the letter “B” followed by the percentage of the blend against the pure petroleum diesel. For example, a B5 Biodiesel Automobile Fuel it comprises 5% of the blend. Biodiesel Automobile Fuel, though, is facing challenges since there are limited sources of feed stocks. It is now an issue that farmlands are being created at the expense of rainforests.
Used mainly in transportation vehicles, Biodiesel Automobile Fuel is only applicable for cars that have diesel engines. The issue with the usage of biodiesel is that it burns faster and cleaner and there is a need to clean the vehicle’s filters more often. This is especially so if the biodiesel fuel is used in its 100% form known as B100.
Biodiesel automobile fuel is also used in railroad trains and buses. As long as the vehicle engine supports biodiesel, it should never be an issue. It is noted that that the world’s first biodiesel train was the Thames Voyager, which ran in biodiesel fuel B20. Biodiesel fuel can also be used in aircrafts.
Biodiesel is made of animal and plant oils. This is then mixed with alcohol or glycerol and this is converted to what is known as Biodiesel Automobile Fuel. It has many blends and the way they are categorized are through the letter “B” followed by the percentage of the blend against the pure petroleum diesel. For example, a B5 Biodiesel Automobile Fuel it comprises 5% of the blend. Biodiesel Automobile Fuel, though, is facing challenges since there are limited sources of feed stocks. It is now an issue that farmlands are being created at the expense of rainforests.
Used mainly in transportation vehicles, Biodiesel Automobile Fuel is only applicable for cars that have diesel engines. The issue with the usage of biodiesel is that it burns faster and cleaner and there is a need to clean the vehicle’s filters more often. This is especially so if the biodiesel fuel is used in its 100% form known as B100.
Biodiesel automobile fuel is also used in railroad trains and buses. As long as the vehicle engine supports biodiesel, it should never be an issue. It is noted that that the world’s first biodiesel train was the Thames Voyager, which ran in biodiesel fuel B20. Biodiesel fuel can also be used in aircrafts.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Biodiesel Fuel Pumps in the World
Since the advent of biodiesel fuel, hundreds of Biodiesel Fuel Pumping stations have incorporated this in their sales. Marketed as Premium Diesel , the production itself has ballooned to 1 billion gallons per year in the United States in 2006. Biodiesel is a form of fuel that is made primarily of vegetable and animal oil. This made out of a process called transesterification. Biodiesel is blended with the common diesel and every type of blend is known based on its percentage. The “B” factor is just a letter prefixed in the actual percentage of the blend.
In Australia, majority of trains and buses use a B5 blend in biodiesel fuel pumps. There are recent talks that the blend will be increased to 20% soon but this will cause more expense since not all diesel machines and vehicles are designed to use higher blends of biodiesel fuel. Australia opened its first biodiesel pump in February of 2005. This was opened in Sydney and was then expanded in 2006.
In Canada, Quebec is known for its heavy usage of pure biodiesel in its shuttle buses. In Nova Scotia, biodiesel fuel pumps abound as biodiesel is not only used in vehicles but also in home heaters and public transportation.
There are many more countries that have opened biodiesel fuel pumps such as Malaysia, India, China, Germany, and others. More and more countries are seeing the benefits of biodiesel and the cost they will save if they start using blended versions of biodiesel fuel not only in transportation but also in home heaters and factory machines.
In Australia, majority of trains and buses use a B5 blend in biodiesel fuel pumps. There are recent talks that the blend will be increased to 20% soon but this will cause more expense since not all diesel machines and vehicles are designed to use higher blends of biodiesel fuel. Australia opened its first biodiesel pump in February of 2005. This was opened in Sydney and was then expanded in 2006.
In Canada, Quebec is known for its heavy usage of pure biodiesel in its shuttle buses. In Nova Scotia, biodiesel fuel pumps abound as biodiesel is not only used in vehicles but also in home heaters and public transportation.
There are many more countries that have opened biodiesel fuel pumps such as Malaysia, India, China, Germany, and others. More and more countries are seeing the benefits of biodiesel and the cost they will save if they start using blended versions of biodiesel fuel not only in transportation but also in home heaters and factory machines.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Can Biodiesel Turbine Fuel Kerosene Be Used in Aircrafts?
A cheap and efficient fuel that will propel a jet or a plane has already been in constant question ever since eternity. Until now, people do not know if a plane can be propelled by using biodiesel turbine fuel kerosene. The reason for this is the amount of petroleum based fuel that may be saved if biodiesel turbine fuel kerosene is used. The amount of diesel or fuel used by aircrafts are gigantic in comparison to normal vehicles such as trucks, cars, and buses. It is therefore necessary to find alternative means of supporting aircraft fuel needs without having to depend on petroleum and one of the most promising alternative is the biodiesel turbine fuel kerosene.
Biodiesel turbine fuel kerosene is a combination of mineral diesel that came from animal and plant fats. It is called fatty acid methyl or in short, FAME. This is because the raw material used for biodiesel fuel is blended with methyl or glycerol. Biodiesel is not commonly used in its pure for, but in blends with pure petroleum diesel. The names if the biodiesel blends are aptly called based on the percentage of the blend. If a blend is made up of 20% biodiesel fuel and 80% petroleum diesel, it is called B20. If the percentage is 40%, it is called B40, and so on.
Accordingly, biodiesel is effective when used in aircrafts. However, diesel that is made f petroleum is much more reliable in performance than biodiesel fuel. Obviously, no one will take the risk to put the lives of the pilot and the aircraft passengers at risk. As of the moment, biodiesel turbine fuel kerosene cannot be used for aircrafts fully. Not yet.
Biodiesel turbine fuel kerosene is a combination of mineral diesel that came from animal and plant fats. It is called fatty acid methyl or in short, FAME. This is because the raw material used for biodiesel fuel is blended with methyl or glycerol. Biodiesel is not commonly used in its pure for, but in blends with pure petroleum diesel. The names if the biodiesel blends are aptly called based on the percentage of the blend. If a blend is made up of 20% biodiesel fuel and 80% petroleum diesel, it is called B20. If the percentage is 40%, it is called B40, and so on.
Accordingly, biodiesel is effective when used in aircrafts. However, diesel that is made f petroleum is much more reliable in performance than biodiesel fuel. Obviously, no one will take the risk to put the lives of the pilot and the aircraft passengers at risk. As of the moment, biodiesel turbine fuel kerosene cannot be used for aircrafts fully. Not yet.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Simple Process to Make Biodiesel Fuel - Foolproof Method from Aleks Kac - 1
Here I will give you some series of foolproof method to make biodiesel fuel which originally written by Aleks Kac. This guy from Slovenija will share you a basic to advance method to make biodiesel fuel at home. You could make your own biodiesel fuel in your living room!.
In this first series of the making biodiesel at home method will share you with the introduction.
This is a FOOLPROOF way to make biodiesel. No titration is required, and no extra equipment or special equipment -- a thermometer's handy, but NO pH meter!
This is a two-stage procedure, acid first-stage, base second-stage. It is based on the highest free fatty acid (FFA) content found in used cooking oil, but it can be used with any waste vegetable/animal oil or fat, whether or not it has a high FFA content. The process increases yields dramatically. Use it as your standard method.
Introduction
To make biodiesel fuel efficiently from used vegetable oils and animal fats we have to avoid one major problem: soap formation. Soap is formed during base-catalyzed transesterification (using lye) when sodium ions combine with free fatty acids present in used (and some virgin) vegetable oils and animal fats. The soaps diminish the yield because they bond the methyl esters to water. The bonded esters get washed out at the washing stage but make water separation more difficult and increase water consumption. This process takes care of the free fatty acids.
In one early test I used a mixture of 50% heavily used cooking oil and 50% pork lard. The result was a pure product with absolutely no trace of soap! The biodiesel looked nice, and smelt nice, as if made from virgin oil.
Aleks (background) and friend Matevz making biodiesel in Matevz's living room.
This is a simple procedure. The first-stage process is not transesterification, but pure and simple ESTERIFICATION. Esterification is followed by transesterification, but under acid conditions it's much slower than under caustic conditions and it won't do a complete oil-to-methyl ester conversion as the reaction is much more equilibrium-sensitive. Without methanol recovery, the alcohol overdose required would make the price of your fuel jump, and even with recovery it would still be much more expensive. Hence the second base-stage.
For the first stage you'll form a compound out of an acid and an alcohol. The alcohol is still methanol, but instead of using lye (sodium hydroxide), the CATALYST in this reaction is sulphuric acid ("battery acid"). It needs 95% sulphuric acid (battery acid is around 50%). Sulphuric acid is one of the commonest chemicals on Earth, just like lye. More concentrated sulphuric acid -- 98% and above -- costs more, but 95% works just fine if you follow these directions. Other acids won't work: it must be sulphuric acid. The second stage uses lye, as usual -- but it only uses about half as much as other methods.
The sulfate ion in the sulphuric acid combines with the sodium ion in the lye during the second-stage reaction to form sodium sulphate, which is a water-soluble salt and is removed in the wash. No sulphur remains in the biodiesel fuel product.
Will continue to the next step on making biodiesel at home using foolproof method of Aleks Kac.
Update: Please read the second step of making biodiesel process here.
Reference:http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_aleksnew.html
Note:I have got a permission from the owner of this article to copy and published here for educational purpose.
In this first series of the making biodiesel at home method will share you with the introduction.
This is a FOOLPROOF way to make biodiesel. No titration is required, and no extra equipment or special equipment -- a thermometer's handy, but NO pH meter!
This is a two-stage procedure, acid first-stage, base second-stage. It is based on the highest free fatty acid (FFA) content found in used cooking oil, but it can be used with any waste vegetable/animal oil or fat, whether or not it has a high FFA content. The process increases yields dramatically. Use it as your standard method.
Introduction
To make biodiesel fuel efficiently from used vegetable oils and animal fats we have to avoid one major problem: soap formation. Soap is formed during base-catalyzed transesterification (using lye) when sodium ions combine with free fatty acids present in used (and some virgin) vegetable oils and animal fats. The soaps diminish the yield because they bond the methyl esters to water. The bonded esters get washed out at the washing stage but make water separation more difficult and increase water consumption. This process takes care of the free fatty acids.
In one early test I used a mixture of 50% heavily used cooking oil and 50% pork lard. The result was a pure product with absolutely no trace of soap! The biodiesel looked nice, and smelt nice, as if made from virgin oil.
Aleks (background) and friend Matevz making biodiesel in Matevz's living room.
This is a simple procedure. The first-stage process is not transesterification, but pure and simple ESTERIFICATION. Esterification is followed by transesterification, but under acid conditions it's much slower than under caustic conditions and it won't do a complete oil-to-methyl ester conversion as the reaction is much more equilibrium-sensitive. Without methanol recovery, the alcohol overdose required would make the price of your fuel jump, and even with recovery it would still be much more expensive. Hence the second base-stage.
For the first stage you'll form a compound out of an acid and an alcohol. The alcohol is still methanol, but instead of using lye (sodium hydroxide), the CATALYST in this reaction is sulphuric acid ("battery acid"). It needs 95% sulphuric acid (battery acid is around 50%). Sulphuric acid is one of the commonest chemicals on Earth, just like lye. More concentrated sulphuric acid -- 98% and above -- costs more, but 95% works just fine if you follow these directions. Other acids won't work: it must be sulphuric acid. The second stage uses lye, as usual -- but it only uses about half as much as other methods.
The sulfate ion in the sulphuric acid combines with the sodium ion in the lye during the second-stage reaction to form sodium sulphate, which is a water-soluble salt and is removed in the wash. No sulphur remains in the biodiesel fuel product.
Will continue to the next step on making biodiesel at home using foolproof method of Aleks Kac.
Update: Please read the second step of making biodiesel process here.
Reference:http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_aleksnew.html
Note:I have got a permission from the owner of this article to copy and published here for educational purpose.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Modify Your Car now To Work with Biofuel
How to Modify a Car Engine to Use Biofuel
from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
You can modify any diesel engine to accept and burn vegetable oil (bio diesel). This clean burning substance not only saves the environment, but can also save you money. Many smaller restaurants must pay someone to dispose of their oil... and will be happy to provide you with all the fuel you need for free!
Steps
- Begin with a vehicle that burns diesel.
- Purchase a biofuel conversion kit that is appropriate to your engine size.
- Purchase auxiliary fuel tanks if necessary.
- Install the kit.
- Put Bio-diesel fuel in your tank.
- Enjoy saving money and improving the environment at the same time.
Tips
- Please remember this only works in Diesel run Engines only!
- Did you know that Bio-Diesel is a genuine clean-burning substance?
Warnings
- Do not put Bio-Diesel (or any diesel fuel) in a gasoline-run engine!
Things You'll Need
- Bio Fuel Conversion kit
- Source of Vegetable Oil
- Mechanic tools / shop
Related wikiHows
- How to Build a Single Tank Biodiesel Processor
- How to Start Using Biodiesel Fuel
- How to Keep a Turbo Diesel Engine on Boost Whilst Accelerating
- How to Drive a Turbo Diesel Car With Manual Transmission Efficiently
Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Modify a Car Engine to Use Biofuel. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Biodiesel Fuel is the New Alternative and Renewable Fuel
Biodiesel Fuel is the New Alternative and Renewable Fuel.
Do you ever heard on biodiesel fuel?If not, biodiesel fuel is an alternative fuel from irreversible fuel which come from fossil source replace to renewable fuel which come from renewable sources like plant oil. With this new renewable sources of energy, many people hope that it could replace the fossil energy.
You could read more detail about biodiesel fuel from the article below
Alternative Fuel Sources - Cheaper And Eco-Friendly
By Scotie Keithlow
As responsible human beings it is our moral duty that we leave this world a better place than we got it from our ancestors. There is an ardent need for saving the environment that is being polluted by emissions given out by the extensive use of gasoline.
The conventional and traditional fuel sources are becoming more and more expensive to extract and their indiscriminate use in the past century has resulted in their depletion. Alarm bells have already started ringing that these storehouses of natural fuel sources will reach critically low levels and precipitate a crisis much earlier than we think.
However there are promising discoveries that give hope that before any crisis occurs, mankind would have perfected and commercialized alternate sources of fuel that will be eco- friendly and affordable too.
Bio-diesel is one such alternate fuel source that is extracted from plants. Also known as E 85, bio-diesel is partly renewable. Its contents of 15% gasoline and 85% ethanol mean that it is at least better than using pure gasoline.
Although such alternate fuel sources like E 85 score above gasoline, they still pollute and require a vast amount of corn to be grown which in turn translates into availability of lesser land for growing food for people.
Presently, electric cars seem to be the best alternate fuel source that we have, if we are to conserve our natural fuel sources. They are efficient because all of the electricity that they need can be generated at one central location. It is a much better option than consuming petroleum derivatives and polluting more by using small and inefficient combustion motors. Electricity can be produced in any manner that suits the needs on a particular location depending on the resources it has. One can use coal, hydro-electric or wind to produce this electricity that is required for electric cars.
The ultimate alternate fuel source, of course is your own legs on bike peddles. Peddle power is becoming increasingly popular as none of the other alternate fuel sources has completely panned out. Bio-diesel is not widely available and the power that the electric cars allow has not been perfected as yet. The bike is really a flawless machine for short to medium commutes. You will be in better shape, save some money, and do the environment a favor as well.
So, before switching on the ignition of the vehicle, ask yourself if it would not be easier to walk or ride.
Do you ever heard on biodiesel fuel?If not, biodiesel fuel is an alternative fuel from irreversible fuel which come from fossil source replace to renewable fuel which come from renewable sources like plant oil. With this new renewable sources of energy, many people hope that it could replace the fossil energy.
You could read more detail about biodiesel fuel from the article below
Alternative Fuel Sources - Cheaper And Eco-Friendly
By Scotie Keithlow
As responsible human beings it is our moral duty that we leave this world a better place than we got it from our ancestors. There is an ardent need for saving the environment that is being polluted by emissions given out by the extensive use of gasoline.
The conventional and traditional fuel sources are becoming more and more expensive to extract and their indiscriminate use in the past century has resulted in their depletion. Alarm bells have already started ringing that these storehouses of natural fuel sources will reach critically low levels and precipitate a crisis much earlier than we think.
However there are promising discoveries that give hope that before any crisis occurs, mankind would have perfected and commercialized alternate sources of fuel that will be eco- friendly and affordable too.
Bio-diesel is one such alternate fuel source that is extracted from plants. Also known as E 85, bio-diesel is partly renewable. Its contents of 15% gasoline and 85% ethanol mean that it is at least better than using pure gasoline.
Although such alternate fuel sources like E 85 score above gasoline, they still pollute and require a vast amount of corn to be grown which in turn translates into availability of lesser land for growing food for people.
Presently, electric cars seem to be the best alternate fuel source that we have, if we are to conserve our natural fuel sources. They are efficient because all of the electricity that they need can be generated at one central location. It is a much better option than consuming petroleum derivatives and polluting more by using small and inefficient combustion motors. Electricity can be produced in any manner that suits the needs on a particular location depending on the resources it has. One can use coal, hydro-electric or wind to produce this electricity that is required for electric cars.
The ultimate alternate fuel source, of course is your own legs on bike peddles. Peddle power is becoming increasingly popular as none of the other alternate fuel sources has completely panned out. Bio-diesel is not widely available and the power that the electric cars allow has not been perfected as yet. The bike is really a flawless machine for short to medium commutes. You will be in better shape, save some money, and do the environment a favor as well.
So, before switching on the ignition of the vehicle, ask yourself if it would not be easier to walk or ride.
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