Transcript Biodiesel Report for the Technical Committee

Biodiesel 101
&
Technical Overview
By Steve Howell – Technical Director, National Biodiesel Board
January 2008
Today’s Topics
Driving Forces—Why Biodiesel?
 Biodiesel Basics
 Production Process and ASTM Spec
 Quality Programs
 Attributes
 OEM Support
 Demand and Availability
 Resources

Biodiesel Driving Forces

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Reduce dependence on imported crude oil and petrodiesel
from unstable parts of the world
Reduce global warming by using a renewable fuel
Reduce harmful emissions from diesel engines
Can be used in any diesel engine without modifications,
existing fueling stations can be used
Easy to use--drop in substitute for petroleum diesel fuel
Produces over 3 times more energy than it takes to grow
and process the fuel
Engine and vehicle companies approve the fuel for use
Over 100 million miles of on-road trouble-free use both
here and abroad
Biodiesel Defined


Biodiesel, n. -- a fuel comprised of monoalkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived
from vegetable oils or animal fats, meeting
ASTM D 6751, designated B100.
Biodiesel Blend, n. -- a blend of biodiesel
fuel with petroleum-based diesel fuel
designated BXX, where XX is the volume
percent of biodiesel.
• This tight definition was needed in order to secure
vehicle, engine and fuel injection equipment company
support for biodiesel, as well as to secure ASTM specs
Biodiesel (B100) Definition

Eliminates:
 Coal Slurries
 Raw Vegetable Oils and Fats
 Non-Esterified Oils
 Partially Esterified Oils
 Blends With Diesel
 Non Ester Renewable Diesel

Most of these have caused serious problems in
diesel engines in past testing
Biodiesel Raw Materials
Oil or Fat
Alcohol
Soybean
Methanol
Corn
Ethanol
Canola
Cottonseed
Catalyst
Sunflower
Sodium hydroxide
Beef tallow
Potassium hydroxide
Pork lard
Used cooking oils
Biodiesel Reaction
In the presence of a catalyst
Combining
Vegetable Oil
or
Animal Fat
(100 lbs.)
+
Methanol or
Ethanol
(10 lbs.)
Yields
Biodiesel
(100 lbs.)
+
Glycerin
(10 lbs.)
Important Biodiesel Parameters

Complete Reaction/Removal of Glycerin
 Insured through total/free glycerin spec

Removal of Catalyst
 Insured through sulfated ash spec

Removal of Alcohol
 Insured through flash point spec

Absence of Free Fatty Acids
 Insured through acid value spec
All these insured through ASTM D 6751
Specification for Biodiesel (B100) –
ASTM D6751-07b (Dec. 2007)
ASTM Current Status

ASTM D 6751 is the approved standard for
B100 to be used for blending in the U.S.

If B100 meets D 6751 and petrodiesel meets
D 975, the two can be blended up to 20%
 Similar to how #1 and #2 diesel are managed

The MOST important factor is B100 meeting
ASTM D 6751 prior to blending
ASTM Current Status

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ASTM is in the process of formally approving
specifications for finished blends of biodiesel
For these blends, all biodiesel used must meet
D 6751 prior to blending
Allowance of up to 5% biodiesel into ASTM D
975, the specification for petrodiesel, has
been approved at the ASTM subcommittee
level. Final vote expected in June 2008
A new ASTM spec for B6-B20 blends has been
approved at the ASTM subcommittee level,
with final vote expected in June 2008
Quality, Quality, Quality

B100 must meet D 6751 prior to blending to insure trouble-free use
of B20 and lower blends

BQ-9000 fuel quality program helps to promote high quality fuel from
producers and marketers

B20 and lower blends are recommended since most of the research
and successful use of the fuel has been with these blends


See NBB Toolkit document “Use of Biodiesel Blends Up to B20” for more
information
Blends over B20 require special precautions and should only be used
by knowledgeable and experienced users

See NBB document “Guidance on Biodiesel Blends Above B20” for more
information:
http://www.biodiesel.org/pdf_files/fuelfactsheets/Use_of_Biodiesel_Blends_above_%2020.pdf
BQ-9000 Program
•Biodiesel Industry’s “Good Housekeeping” TM seal of
approval for biodiesel production & distribution companies
•Quality Control System covers biodiesel manufacturing,
sampling, testing, blending, storage, shipping, distribution
•ASTM Grade Fuel, BQ-9000 Companies
Biodiesel (B100) Attributes
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High Cetane (avg. over 50)
Ultra Low Sulfur (avg. ~ 2 ppm)
High Lubricity, even in blends as low as 1-2%
High Energy Balance (3.2 to 1)
Renewable, Sustainable, Domestically Produced
Increases overall fuel production capacity in USA
Reduces HC, PM, CO in existing diesel engines
Enhanced Lubricity

Ultra-low Sulfur Diesel
 Superior lubricity
800
HFRR WSD (micron)
Equipment
benefits
 B2 has up to 66%
700
600
more lubricity than
#2 Diesel
500
400
300
200

100
0
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
Biodiesel Blend (%)
4.0
5.0

EPA required sulfur
reduction in 2006
No overdosing
concerns vs. other
lubricity additives
Biodiesel and Global Warming

Closed Carbon Cycle: CO2 Used to Grow
Feedstock is Put Back Into Air
•
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78% Life Cycle Decrease In CO2
Energy Balance 3.2 to 1
Compression Ignition Platform (i.e. diesel)
30% More Efficient Than Spark Ignition
(i.e. gasoline, CNG, propane)
Economic Development:
Biodiesel
Creates
Manufacturing Jobs
 Creates Expanded
Markets for
Agricultural Products
 Improves Balance of
Trade

Energy security

Increases Domestic Fuel Production
Capacity
 Putting renewable feeds through existing refineries
doesn’t do this
Reduces Energy Imports and Dependence
on Foreign Oil Sources
 Good Fit as ‘Distributed Energy’ for Energy
Security

2002 EPA HD Emissions Averages
FTP Engine Dyno Summary
Emission Type
B100
B20
B2
Total Unburned
Hydrocarbons
Carbon Monoxide
Particulate Matter
Oxides of Nitrogen (NOX)
-67%
-20%
-2.2%
-48%
-47%
+10%
-12%
-12%
+2%
-1.3%
-1.3%
+.2%
- Higher % reductions occur at the lower blends
- EPA is re-evaluating NOx data
Cold Weather Performance
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Pure biodiesel does freeze faster than most
petrodiesel
Your B20 supplier should provide blends of B20 that
will not cause any cold flow issues in the winter
 Exactly the same way they do with #2 diesel fuel

There are a variety of tools at the disposal of
distributors to improve the cold flow operability of #2
petrodiesel and biodiesel blends
 Blending with #1, cold flow additives, etc.

B20 has been used successfully in climates below
-20ºF
Biodiesel Fuel Stability
The biodiesel specification contains
parameters for insuring adequate fuel
stability for normal applications
 The shelf life of biodiesel blends is
recommended by NBB as 6 months

Fuel Filters and Solvency
B20 & Under
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Monitor filters, less than 2% need to be changed
Mild cleaning effect
Storage tanks may need to be cleaned, or keep
extra filters on hand at start up
Housekeeping protocols for generic diesel equally
important prior to blending
OEM Warranty Statements
and Biodiesel
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All major U.S. OEMs support B5 and lower blends,
provided they are made with biodiesel meeting ASTM
D 6751, the existing ASTM International standard for pure
biodiesel (B100)
Many are progressing toward support for B20 pending
approval of a new ASTM standard for B20 blends
Use of blends higher than B5 will not necessarily void
existing warranties
For a complete listing of OEM position statements on
biodiesel, visit:
 http://www.biodiesel.org/resources/fuelfactsheets/standards_and
_warranties.shtm
Major OEMs’ Biodiesel Positions
Case IH
New Holland
Case IH accepts up to B20 for most equipment;
nearly half of all Case IH equipment also
approved for B100.
New Holland approves B100 in all equipment
with New Holland diesel engines.
Caterpillar
Tiered acceptance for B30 / B20 / B5 depending
upon equipment type and model
Chrysler
Accepts up to B5 in most vehicles; B5 factory fill
in Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Ram;
B20 approved for fleet use in Dodge Ram
Cummins
Accepts up to B20 in ISX, ISM, ISL, ISC and ISB
engines; require BQ-9000 supplier
Detroit Diesel
Accepts up to B5
Major OEMs’ Biodiesel Positions
Ford
General Motors
Accepts up to B5; working toward B20
International
Accepts up to B5; B20 offered as Special
Equipment Option for fleets on select vehicles
Accepts up to B5
Isuzu
Accepts up to B5
John Deere
Accepts up to B20; Recommends B5; Utilizes B2
factory fill for all U.S. diesels
Mack
Accepts up to B5 produced from Soy (SME)
Mercedes
Accepts up to B5
Volvo Truck
Accepts up to B5
VW
Accepts up to B5; working toward B20
Distribution Locations
2007
Type of Seller
Both Retail & Bulk
Bulk Distribution
Retail Outlets
(343)
(1515)
(760)
Production Locations
Current Production Capacity =
2.24 Billion Gallons/Year
Plants Under Construction
& Expansion
New Capacity = 1.11 Billion
Gallons/Year
Total Capacity (Existing + New) =
3.35 Billion Gallons/Year
NBB Resources
•www.biodiesel.org
• Technical Library
• Biodiesel Bulletin
• Educational Videos Available
• Informational Resources
• Technical Resources
• On-line Database & Spec Sheets
•www.BQ-9000.org
• Biodiesel Quality Certification Program for
Accredited Producers and Certified Marketers