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It is fascinating to see how one voice with a good idea -
one that can protect our families and the world we live in
- can become a chorus.
Last July, California began an attempt to regulate carbon
dioxide from motor vehicles beginning in model year 2009.
The move illustrates heightened pressure on engine manufacturers
to reduce not only hydro-carbons being released into the air,
but also carbon dioxide, a result of the combustion process.
Biodiesel is an obvious contender to do the job.
As California takes action, others are also touting the potential
of biodiesel, including the National Biodiesel Board and celebrity
Willie Nelson. Through campaigns to mount awareness and availability,
they are encouraging us to change our fuel of choice to biodiesel,
because of its potential to reduce greenhouse gases from diesel
engines. A life-cycle study conducted in 1998 by the U.S.
Department of Energy found that biodiesel engines, which involve
a closed carbon cycle, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by
78 percent compared to petroleum diesel usage.
Biodiesel is a renewable fuel that can be manufactured domestically
from soybean and other vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled
restaurant greases. Safe and biodegradable, the fuel reduces
serious air pollutants such as particulates, carbon monoxide,
hydrocarbons, and air toxins. Emissions of unburned hydrocarbons,
carbon monoxide, sulfates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,
nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and particulate
matter are significantly reduced when using biodiesel in a
conventional diesel engine.
Cleaner than petroleum diesel, biodiesel operates in compression-ignition
engines. Some manufacturers, however, are concerned about
the impact of biodiesel on engine durability.
Blends of 20 percent biodiesel with 80 percent petroleum diesel,
known as B20, can generally be used in unmodified diesel engines,
though users should consult their operator's equipment manual
and engine warranty statement.
Biodiesel can also be used in its pure form, known as B100,
but it may require engine modifications to avoid maintenance
and performance problems. B100 also may not be suitable for
wintertime use, because its low pour-temperature is not suitable
for use in low-temperature conditions. Still, many fuel conditioners
formulated for petroleum diesel will also work with biodiesel.
As the amount of biodiesel blended into diesel fuel increases
so do the emission reductions. Therefore, B100 brings the
best emission reductions. Oxygen in biodiesel enables more
complete combustion to CO2 and reduces the sulfate fraction.
Biodiesel contains less than 15 ppm sulfur, which meets a
federal government emissions goal.
While some biodiesel blends produce more nitrogen oxides than
others, additives have shown promise in reducing these increases.
The National Biodiesel Board cites department of energy data
showing that biodiesel has become the fastest growing alternative
fuel in the country. The board reports that there are more
than 600 biodiesel retail filling stations available for the
public and that 1,500 petroleum distributors nationwide handle
biodiesel. It also reports that more than 600 vehicle fleets
use biodiesel, including in the U.S. military, the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, Yellowstone National
Park, and hundreds of local government, school district, and
commercial fleets.
But the future of biodiesel depends on equipment manufacturers
developing new engines tailored to its use. To date, CaseIH
and John Deere have endorsed up to B5 in their products.
Deere's guidelines state that blending biodiesel fuel above
a 5 percent concentration could have adverse affects to the
engine. A rundown of the potential problems includes power
loss and deterioration of performance, fuel leakage through
seals and hoses, corrosion of fuel injection equipment, lubricity
of biodiesel and the fuel injection equipment, coked or blocked
injector nozzles that lead to poor fuel atomization, filter
plugging, lacquering or seizure of internal injection system
components, sludge, sediments, and reduced service life.
Even if it doesn't seem like we're ready as an industry to
take the big jump yet to B100 fuels, the direction of engine
manufacturers and new technology may be showing us the way.
Useful Resources:
www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/altfuel/biodiesel.html
www.biotrucker.com
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