Biodiesel is it the future?

What is Biodiesel? Biodiesel is a sustainable, renewable fuel which is produced from vegetable oils to extrapolate the Fatty Acid Methyl Ester this process is called Esterification. The most common sources for the oil are from Rapeseed and Sunflower Seeds.

Why use Biodiesel? It is deemed as a sustainable and renewable fuel source. It has been demonstrated that using Biodiesels provides: Significant environmental benefits as it has lower emission levels and gives greater energy independence and can be manufactured from waste cooking oils. It also has a positive impact on Agriculture as it can be grown on setaside land. 1 acre of rapeseed can produce 535 litres of oil of which 97% can be used for Biodiesel. There have been numerous studies which estimate that the use of 1Kg of Biodiesel can reduce the CO2 levels by 3Kg compared to Fossil Diesels, as it is extremely low in sulphur. The lubricity of the fuel has also shown to be better according to the standard tests (Ball on Cylinder Lubricity Evaluator (BOCLE) & the High Frequency Reciprocating Rig (HFRR).

Biodiesel and the Heating Industry. There are numerous benefits for the use of Biodiesel in the Auto industry, and these are basically mirrored in the Heating Industry. Brookhaven National Laboratory completed an evaluation of this fuel type and their tests were completed on both Domestic and Commercial burner sizes. Their results demonstrated that blends of biodiesel and heating oil can be used with good results and with few or no modifications to either the equipment or practices. Again the results showed that there were reductions in smoke and Nitrogen Oxides (Nox) levels and that this would have a notable affect on the environment if used comprehensively.

Implications to the Heating Industry: Lack of uniformity in blends can lead to: Biological activity - the root cause of sludge. This sludge can clog the burner nozzle or filter. Reduction in the life of the burner from component failure.. Stability of the blend and therefore burner operation. All these issues have been addressed by manufacturers and the solutions have been: Low level blends to be used in most applications to both stabilise and reduce sludging. Viton seals to be used in the manufacture of such parts as pumps so increase the life of the burner. Ensuring that the burners are serviced at regular intervals to change filters (if necessary) to ensure the burners smooth running operation. Some blends have a tendency to split and these would have to be agitated in the tank to ensure a stable blend and may also require a small amount of heat to keep the blend in suspension.

In Conclusion is Biodiesel the future fuel? Although in its infancy Biodiesel has already arrived. It is a fuel for now not the future. There will be more studies and we will have a better understanding of its character and potential. Know your blend – this is very important as there are so many cottage manufacturers and large companies making the fuel, however they are not being manufactured to the same specification and this can have implications to the life span of the burner and therefore boiler. The Planet – whether you believe in Global warming or not; using a fuel which is kinder to the environment can only be a good choice for both you and your customers.