Transcript Purchasing & Using Biodiesel

Purchasing & Using Biodiesel
Brian D. Bontempo, Ph.D.
“Benign”
Topics
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Introduction
What is Biodiesel?
Why Biodiesel?
The Diesel experience
Purchasing a diesel vehicle
Introduction a diesel vehicle to Biodiesel
Purchasing Biodiesel
Other Uses of Biodiesel
Who am I?
• Biodiesel user for about 2.5 years running
it in three different vehicles
• Traveled extensively on the West Coast
using Biodiesel
• Former member of the Portland Biodiesel
Co-op
Sources of Information
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Portland Biodiesel Co-op
National Biodiesel Board
Personal Experience
Talking to folks while traveling
www.biofuels4oregon.org
Guru’s
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Brian Jamison
Loren Fennel
Capra J’neva
Jahmez Reismiller
Justin @ Greaseworks
Why Alternative Fuels?
• Reduce toxic emissions
• Eliminate support for oil based politics
• Eliminate environmental impact of
harvesting, transporting, and
manufacturing gasoline
• Fossil Fuels are not sustainable
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. (National Biodiesel Board)
How is Biodiesel made?
• Biodiesel is made through a chemical
process called transesterification
whereby the glycerin is separated from
the fat or vegetable oil. The process
leaves behind two products -- methyl
esters (the chemical name for biodiesel)
and glycerin, a valuable byproduct used
in soaps and other products. (National
Biodiesel Board)
Alternative Fuels
• Vegetable Oil
– Biodiesel
– Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO – also known as Waste
Vegetable Oil or WVO)
• Electric
– Electric Vehicles (EV)
– Electric Hybrid
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Propane
Ethanol
Hydrogen Fuel Cell
Air Car
Why Vegetable Oil?
• Plenty of new and used diesel vehicles are
available today
• Primary fuel sources (biodiesel) are widely
available on the West Coast
• Secondary fuel sources (petrodiesel) are
available worldwide
• Parts manufacturers & repair mechanics are
available worldwide
• Fuel production can be localized
• When the fuel source expires, there is no toxic
end product (such as a battery)
Why Vegetable Oil?
• Energy Yield: The production of biodiesel
yields 320% more energy than is used in
manufacturing it (US Dept of Agriculture)
• Mileage: Diesels are very efficient
engines (20-50% more efficient than gas)
• Emissions:
Reduced Emissions
Source: GoBiodiesel Cooperative
Why choose Biodiesel over SVO?
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Biodiesel is legal, SVO is not
Less car maintenance required
Less operational headaches
More consistent fuel sources
Backed by your engine’s warranty
The Diesel Experience
• How does a diesel engine work?
• Characteristics of older diesel vehicles
• Today’s diesel engine
Rudolph Diesel
• Invented Diesel Engine in 1892 to run on
Peanut Oil
• “The use of vegetable oils may seem
insignificant today. But such oils may in
the course of time be as important as
petroleum and the coal tar products of
present time.” – 1912
• (courtesy of the National Biodiesel Board)
Engines
• A gasoline engine intakes a mixture
of gas and air, compresses it and
ignites the mixture with a spark.
• A diesel engine takes in just air,
compresses it and then injects fuel
into the compressed air. The heat of
the compressed air lights the fuel
spontaneously.
Plugs
• Gas engines have spark plugs to ignite the
air-fuel mixture.
• Diesel engines have glow plugs that help
the diesel turnover in cold-start
circumstances when the air-fuel charge
cannot be brought up to combustion
temperatures.
• A glow plug works like a heated wire and
raises the air temperature inside the
cylinder for cold-start, after which it
turns off.
Engine Compression
• A gasoline engine compresses at a ratio of
8:1 to 12:1, while a diesel engine
compresses at a ratio of 14:1 to as high as
25:1. The higher compression ratio of the
diesel engine leads to better efficiency.
Diesel Fuel
• Diesel is heavier than gasoline.
• Diesel is a better lubricant than gasoline.
• Diesel evaporates much more slowly than
gasoline
• Diesel’s boiling point is higher than water.
• Diesel fuel contains more energy per
gallon than gasoline. (155 x 106 joules vs.
132 x 106 joules)
Biodiesel
• Biodiesel is non-toxic (does not contaminate
water or soil)
• Biodiesel is more lubricious than petrodiesel
(B2 is 66% more lubricious than diesel)
• Biodiesel is a solvent (rots rubber)
• Biodiesel decomposes more quickly than
petrodiesel
• Biodiesel gels at a higher temperature than
petrodiesel
• Biodiesel has a higher flash point (260°-425° F
vs. 125 ° F)
• Biodiesel can be mixed with petrodiesel at any
ratio
Characteristics of old diesels
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Noisy
Dirty
Smelly
No pick-up
Difficult to start in winter
Great mileage
Low maintenance
Last forever
Accountants love em for the overall cost
savings
Today’s Diesels
• Turbo
– Increased pickup
– Increased efficiency
– Burn more
particulates
• Electronic Fuel Injection
– Increased pickup
– Increased efficiency
– Burn more
particulates
• Quick Glow Plugs
– Decreased waiting
time before coldstarting
– Increased the
• Exhaust Enhancements
– Particulate Traps
– Oxidation Catalysts
• Better engine design
– Quieter
Purchasing a Diesel Vehicle
• Considerations
• Sources
• Makes & Models
Considerations
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Type of fuel lines (before or after 1994)
Type of fuel injector pump
Fuel Filter
Difficulty in starting
Oil Consumption
Availability of parts
Sources
• New Car Dealers
• Web Sites
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ebay.com
virtualclassifieds.net
portland.craigslist.org
gobiodiesel.org
greaseworks.org
Makes & Models
• Older
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VW – Rabbit, Truck, Vanagon, Jetta, Dasher
Mercedes – 240D, 260D, 300D, 300TD, 300SD
Ford & Chevy – Full Size & Panel Trucks
1980s Small Truck – Datsun, Toyota, Isuzu,
Mitsubishi
– Obscure – Volvo, Peugeot, BMW
– Import – Toyota, Mercedes
– School Buses - International
Makes & Models
• Newer
– VW (TDI) – Jetta, Beetle, Passat
– Mercedes – E320CDI
– Large Trucks – Duramax (Chevy), Cummins
(Dodge), Detroit (Ford)
– Freightliner Sprinter
Breaking in Biodiesel
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Install Biodiesel propaganda on bumper
Install a second in-line fuel filter
Get to know your engine (Track MPG)
Start with small portions of Biodiesel (B20) and
increase slowly
• Change fuel filter(s) often for at least the first
6 months
• Change fuel lines from Rubber to Viton
(synthetic) lines between 5,000 and 30,000
miles
Breaking in Biodiesel
• Things to remember about Biodiesel
– Biodiesel is a solvent
– Biodiesel rots rubber
– Biodiesel gels when it gets cold
• Things to remember about diesel engines
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They like Biodiesel
They like Oil
They don’t like water
They don’t like dirt
What should you expect
• Power will diminish slightly
• Fuel efficiency will diminish slightly
• When fuel filters are getting filled up with
gunk, the engine will hesitate, starved for fuel
– Biodiesel will clean the fuel tank kicking up
sediment that the fuel filter(s) will catch
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Rubber Fuel Lines will begin to rot
Fuel Injector Pump Seals may also begin to rot
MPGs will drop as you go over 55 mph
Weight gain due to increased cases of the
munchies
Maintaining your Biodiesel Vehicle
• Check & drain water separator regularly
• Changing the Fuel Filter
– Bleed the lines of any air
– Fill the filter with ATF (Automatic
Transmission Fluid)
– Change gaskets and seals
• Change Oil Regularly
• Use B50 in Cold Weather – lowers cold
filter plugging point from 30° F to 4° F
Purchasing Biodiesel
• The different aspects of the fueling
experience
• Portland Biodiesel Distributors
• Web Sites with more
Aspects of the Purchasing
Experience
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Fuel Distribution Type
Payment Type
Types of fuel available
Quality of Fuel
Convenience
Fuel Distribution Type
• Retail - Small Quantity Consumer Vehicle
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Below Ground Tank
250 gallon totes
Delivery Truck
5 gallon Jerry can
• Bulk - Large Quantity Multipurpose
– 250 gallon totes
– 55 gallon drums
– Delivery Truck
Methods of Payment
• Pay at the pump
– Pay for any amount
– Pay for 5 gallon jerry cans
• Cardlock
– Pay periodically through billing
– Pay for a specified amount ahead of time
Types of Fuel Available
• Grade
– B100
– B20
– B5
• Intended Use
– On Road subject to $0.484 per gallon state
and federal road tax.
– Off Road
Quality of Fuel
• Varies much more than typical diesel
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Type of vegetable oil used
Cleanliness of the oil if used
Manufacturing process
Age of Fuel
• December 2001, ASTM (American Society for
Testing and Materials) approved the full
standard for biodiesel, with the new
designation of D-6751 (succeeds PS 121-99)
• Europe Rapeseed Methyl Ester Standards
Convenience
• Hours of Operation
• Location
• Cash/Credit/Check
Portland Biodiesel Distributors
• Sequential Biofuels
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1130 NW St. Helens
Fill up at a shell station
Retail Pay-at-the-pump
$3.10 / gal
600 gal/week (1000 gal / day for normal
diesel)
– B100
Portland Biodiesel Distributors
• Sequential Biofuels
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3537 NE St Helens (Hwy 30 & Kittridge)
Fill up at a gas station
Cardlock with 24/7 availability
Billed bi-monthly
$2.79 / gal
B20
Portland Biodiesel Distributors
• Star Oil Co.
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232 NE Middlefield Rd
Fill up at a typical station
Retail Pay-at-the-pump
$3.10 / gal
600 gal/week (1000 gal / day for normal
diesel)
– B100
Portland Biodiesel Distributors
• Star Oil Co.
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4505 SE 17th Ave (at Holgate)
Fill up at a gas station
Cardlock with 24/7 availability
Billed bi-monthly
$2.79 / gal
B20
Portland Biodiesel Distributors
• Industrological, LLC
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Johnson Creek Blvd.
Fill up at a gas station
Cardlock with 24/7 availability
Billed bi-monthly
$3.01 / gal
B100
Portland Biodiesel Distributors
• Albina Fuel
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3246 NE Broadway
Fill up at a typical station
Retail Pay-at-the-pump
$2.50 / gal
600 gal/week (1000 gal / day for normal
diesel)
– B20
Portland Biodiesel Distributors
• Portland Biodiesel Co-op
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Karma Points for volunteering. $1.75 / gal
$50 membership dues
Purchase a limited amount bi-weekly
Fill up via jerry cans at Co-op location on
Johnson Creek
– Fuel not available at this time.
– Volunteer hours required to maintain
membership.
Portland Biodiesel Distributors
• Private Distributors
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250 gallon totes (or delivered via Unamog)
Private appointment
Cash only
Friendly service
Brian Jamison (SE), Loren Fennel (North),
Kris Amundson (Tigard), Kelly O’Toole
(Deliver)
Vicinity Locations
• Plan Ahead. Some of these locations are
bulk only and have limited hours
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Corvallis
Eugene
Medford
Olympia
Seattle
Orcas Island
Other Uses for Biodiesel
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Watercraft
Home Heat
Electric Generators
Kiln
Oregon HB 3481
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Passed the House and Senate Revenue Committee
Reinstates the renewable fuel standard -- the requirement that oil companies blend
biodiesel into diesel (2% by mid 2006; 5% by 2010) and ethanol into gasoline (10% by
2010), but only if a certain number of gallons of each of these fuels is produced in
Oregon
Allows a property tax exemption for ethanol, biofuel (including biodiesel) and
verified fuel additive production facilities
Allows biofuels and biomass plants, as well as equipment used to produce biofuels
or grow crops for biofuels, to qualify for the Pollution Control Tax Credit (PCTC)
Provides tax credits to the producers of biofuel raw materials
Creates a Clean School Bus Grant Fund, but provides no seed funding
Bans MTBE and several other gasoline additives
Extends eligibility for expediting energy facility siting to biodiesel plants and
cellulosic ethanol plants
Exhorts state government to use alternative fuels, but does not require biodiesel
use
Reduces the fuel tax on biodiesel purchased for use in lightweight vehicles and
farm equipment traveling on road
Includes several other policies to support renewable energy and sustainability
(requires 1% solar in construction of new government buildings, provides lottery
bonds for renewable energy R&D, allows construction of renewable energy facilities
on state lands, and extends the sunset date of the sustainability board)
Final Comments
• Buy Biodiesel. I’ve heard folks say they no
longer carry it due to lack of demand.
• Buy fuel that meets the standards - World
Energy produced out of Spec Fuel (Fairfax, CA)
• There’s a making biodiesel workshop on Sunday
July 23rd at the Oregon Biodiesel Workshop in
North Portland (Contact:
http://www.oregonbiodieselworkshop.com/)