Sep
09
2009
0

The Pros And Cons Of Biodiesel Fuel

While looking closely at biodiesel fuel, you will find that its chemical and physical properties are extremely similar to all of the petroleum based diesel fuel, in relationship to its operation within the diesel or compression ignition engines. Because of this, biodiesel may be used within diesel engines without all of the other expensive alterations to the fuel system or engine. In addition to all of the savings in cost, there are several other notable benefits of using the biodiesel that includes:

  1. Biodiesel fuel is non-toxic, biodegradable, and essentially free of aromatics and sulfur.
  2. Biodiesel fuel is safer to transport and handle.
  3. Biodiesel fuel has less noxious emissions than when compared to the diesel that is petroleum based, and it virtual eliminates acid rain which causes sulfur dioxide.
  4. Operates in any unmodified, conventional diesel engine.
  5. High octane number.
  6. Improved lubricity.
  7. Improved conductivity especially when compared to the ultra-low sulfur form of diesel fuel.

Overall, the best advantage of biodiesel fuel is going to be that it is a renewable fuel source, whereas all of the petroleum fuels are considered to be limited. For this reason alone, biodiesel fuel has a steadily increasing popularity.

The Disadvantages Associated With Biodiesel Fuel

  1. Lower energy content: Neat biodiesel fuel has an energy content that is eleven percent lower than the energy content of diesel fuel that is petroleum based, which results the engine operation experiencing a power loss. In turn, the engine adjustment that is required for power losses may lead to violating the anti-tampering provisions of the EPA.
  2. Engine operation problems: All of the engines today are designed in order to operate on petroleum fuel. The higher percentage and neat biodiesel fuels may cause a wide variety of several different engine performance problems, which includes: injector coking, fuel filter plugging, sever degradation of engine lubricant, elastomeric seal hardening and swelling, and piston ring breaking and sticking.
  3. Handling and Storage: The long-term storage problems are known to occur from the biodiesel fuel’s poor oxidation. When at low temperatures, biodiesel fuels may thicken and plug the fuel filters. Biodiesel fuel is also subject to m 1000 icrobial growth which causes fuel system corrosion, operation problems and premature plugging of the fuel filter.

Overall, these are the advantages and disadvantages that are associated with biodiesel fuel. In the event that you are interested in learning more about biodiesel fuel, there is a ton of information online that you are able to use as valuable resources. Online you will be able to find any information you could ever imagine about biodiesel fuels, you just have to make sure that you take the time to read it carefully until you understand each aspect.

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Sep
03
2009
0

Getting Around On Biofuels

There has been a lot of discussion about biofuels these days. With the cost of fuel increasing in price and decreasing in availability, the need for an alternative fuel is on the rise. Many have heard the term biofuel but knowing what it means, well that can be tricky.

Technically, biofuel is any fuel that is derived from biomass-recently living organisms or their metabolic by-products, such as manure from cows. It is considered ‘green’ because it comes from a renewable energy source, unlike other natural resources such as petroleum, coal and nuclear fuels.

Agricultural products specifically grown for use as biofuels include corn and soybeans (primarily in the United States) as well as flaxseed and rapeseed (primarily in Europe).

Biofuels can also be made from waste. For instance, straw, lumber, manure, sewage, garbage and food leftovers from industries like agriculture, forestry and households can also be used to produce bioenergy.

There are pros and cons when it comes to the various types of biofuels. One of the largest discussions now is regarding the use of fuel made of corn. This is often called the "food vs fuel" debate. Some of the cons in harvesting corn for fuel is the amount of carbon emissions levels, having enough corn to create a sustainable biofuel production, deforestation and soil erosion that comes with growing more corn, impact on water resources, turning potential food into fuel and its human rights issues. But corn is only one source of making biofuel.

What material can be used to make biofuels? Conventional ethanol is made from sugar cane, corn, and sweet sorghum. Soybean and rapeseed oil are often used to make biodiesel. Algae is also used to make biodiesel.

Trees, grass, agricultural residue, and municipal solid waste can also be converted into biofuel. Cellulose makes up the majority of a plant’s structure and can be broken down into sugars, which can then be fermented and made into ethanol. Recent research is making this process less expensive and more energy efficient.

As the world’s top producer, Brazil uses sugar cane to make ethanol. Many other developing countries, such as those of southern Africa, produce large amounts of sugar and also have potential to become ethanol producers. The Midwestern United States relies on corn to produce nearly one-quarter of the globe’s ethanol, and China is quickly emerging as the third largest ethanol supplier.

Other countries with limited fossil fuel res 1000 ources are examining the prospect of producing domestic fuel supplies. Thailand has an aggressive policy to make use of tapioca and sugar cane for ethanol production. Other countries are ramping up biodiesel production as well. The Philippines recently mandated incorporation of coconut oil biodiesel into diesel fuel, the first time coconut oil has been used as a motor fuel.

Cars, trucks, and farm machinery can all run on low-volume biofuel blends without any alteration. Current car warranties cover operation with ethanol-blended gas of up to ten percent. Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) operate on any combination of ethanol and gasoline. FFVs are being sold in the U.S., Brazil, and China. As ethanol has a higher octane, it is used as a gasoline additive to improve vehicle performance. In fact, many international racing teams use ethanol because of its high performance qualities. Biodiesel blends of 20% show similar operation in conventional diesel engines as regular diesel fuel.

Will biofuels replace are dependency on foreign oil? It may be too soon to tell but it certainly is a fuel worth looking into.

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Aug
25
2009
0

Biodiesel Vs. Diesel

When comparing various fossil fuel alternatives, there are many things that need to be considered. The alternative must be a significantly better option. Though there are many petroleum alternatives, biodiesel is just one that is under further speculation. It has already proven to be a viable resource. Though diesel has been in use for many years, it is no longer an efficient source, not as far as earth friendly options go. Many consumers are used to hearing all of these environmental and fuel option terms thrown around. Understanding them is very important when it comes to making personal choices to help the environment.

Biodiesel comes from natural sources. Unlike regular diesel which is derived from petroleum, biodiesel comes from natural resources such as animal fat or various vegetable oils. The great thing about this type of fuel is that it can be used in an engine that runs regular diesel. Since there are many places one can acquire vegetable oil and used fat from animals, it is a great possibility for those that have diesel vehicles. It certainly may be worth looking into. Not only does it save money, it also reuses things that may otherwise just be tossed out.

The use of biodiesel is receiving plenty of publicity in recent years. Many celebrities have spoken out about making use of it in their own vehicles which has increased consumer interest. It is also being used in many trains and buses worldwide as a means of reducing the use of oil and petroleum.

Biodiesel seems to have many advantages over regular petrol diesel. It works far better for lubrication which is a big problem with regular diesel. In cold temperatures a diesel engine runs horribly, in some cases not at all. The diesel grows thick and becomes like a gel that will not move through the engine properly upon start up. Biodiesel does not have this problem. The use of biodiesel will also greatly decrease the wear on your engine in comparison to petroleum diesel. Of course there are no highly toxic fumes and emissions associated with biodiesel either. The advantages clearly speak for themselves.

Like anything, the use of biodiesel has its drawbacks. The problems associated with biodiesel results from water being present in the fuel. There are several different problems that are associated with water in the fuel. It reduces the power given to the engine and causes it to have a harder time starting up. Water also causes serious corrosion in certain components like water pumps and fuel lines. If the water freezes inside the f 1000 uel lines then that could pose a significant problem as well. Additionally, having a heated tank doesn’t help much either because it cause the production of microbes.

No matter how far science goes to solve the problems affiliated with fossil fuels and finding the best alternatives possible, there will always be setbacks and disadvantages. As consumers we all must do our part to stay informed. Helping the earth must begin with understanding and proper information.

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