March 6, 2010
- BioDiesel Jatropha
davidwgair asked:This is a 1983 Mercedes-Benz 300SD running on jatropha oil that cost 35 cents per gallon to produce. The oil was pressed with a 55J oil press. I sell the press in case you are interested.
Read more on BioDiesel Jatropha…
Energy Tags: wind power, alternative energy
February 25, 2010
- First BIG batch of biodiesel
jobremski asked:This is our BIG biodiesel processor running it’s first official batch. This setup will make about 275 gallons (theoretically) each day with seperate mix/wash and dry tanks. My Unimog standing in as the air compressor for one of the pumps as out little air compressor kicked the bucket. Big compressor will be here next week. *UPDATE* We’ve since ran about 4 batches, 1 flopped, bad oil… Finding little ways to improve the process each batch. Averaging about 3 days to do a batch with long wash …
Read more on First BIG batch of biodiesel…
Energy Tags: solar energy, wind power
February 14, 2010
- Hempseed Biodiesel Car at Ohio County Fair
cannabistv asked:Hemp powered car visits Knox County fair, with Don Swearingen of Apple Energy – explaing the making of biodiesel from hemp seed oil.
Energy Tags: hybrid cars, energy resources
February 4, 2010
- Biodiesel no Jornal Nacional
biodieselbr asked:www.biodieselbr.com O JN fala sobre o biodiesel e as oportunidades criadas por este biocombustível. Parte de uma série de reportagens sobre energia alternativa, por Júlio Mosquéra.
Energy Tags: hybrid cars, wind power
January 27, 2010
- Making Biodiesel at Home
quizbo707 asked:A walkthrough of the steps for making biodiesel at home, and driving your car for 65-75 cents/gallon. June 2008 update from the guy who makes this in the video – “methanol is $3.95 a gallon now, pushing my per gallon price to around $1 +/- .05 depending on yield and lye.”
Read more on Making Biodiesel at Home…
Energy Tags: alternative energy, wind power
October 21, 2009
- Turning A Beetle Into A Hybrid
Students at the University of Kansas have built what may be the coolest hybrid ever — a 1974 Volkswagen Super Beetle–series hybrid that burns biodiesel and gets about 50 mpg.The Super Beetle had been rusting away on a used car lot until it was donated to a mechanical engineering class led by professor Chris Depcik. He turned it over to a group of environmentally conscious engineering students who call themselves the EcoHawks. Over the course of a year, they installed a series of 10 lead-acid batteries and a biodiesel generator. It isn’t very fast — even by Beetle standards — but it runs.
Read more on Turning A Beetle Into A Hybrid…
Energy Tags: biodiesel, battery technology
June 6, 2009
- The Best Biodiesel Filter for You
Matt Oconnor asked:The processing of biodiesel may require a number of biodiesel filters in order to ensure that the end product is of excellent quality. When you try to recycle waste vegetable or surplus corn oil and make them into biodiesel, you might need a biodiesel filter for your engine to make sure that contaminants can’t enter into the engine and damage it. Different biodiesel filters may be required for a number of different applications.
Biodiesel filters should have the following properties in order to work best in any given conditions:
1. High Temperature Properties. Almost any filter media can be used for water-based products. But in the case of filtering hot oils, resins and other high temperature products, a filter media that can withstand prolonged exposure to high temperatures is preferred. Biodiesel filters should be able to have excellent high temperature properties to be able to handle the filtration of biodiesel well enough.
2. Excellent Filtering. Biodiesel filters should be able to filter out the contaminants well enough in order to make a better grade product. All filters have a micron rating that determines the size of the particles that can be effectively captured by the filter media. A biodiesel filter having a 5 micron rating is preferred to provide excellent filtering properties.
3. Chemical Compatibility. A biodiesel filter should be able to withstand exposure to such chemicals as solvents, acids and alkaline solutions. A lesser quality filter may break down when exposed to such chemicals. Make sure that the biodiesel filter that you use has the property to withstand breaking down when exposed to such chemicals.
Biodiesel has become a very popular fuel alternative to petroleum-based fuel today. That is why more and more people are trying to make use of biodiesel in order to lessen their reliance on fuels based on fossil oil, which can pollute the environment. With biodiesel, people have the option to make use of a cleaner alternative. Here are just some of the key advantages of using biodiesel:
1. The use of biodiesel produces at least an 80 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. Not only that, biodiesel contains little or even no sulfur content that can result in as much as a hundred percent less sulfur dioxide being released in the air.
2. Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel available that can run in any conventional diesel engine. Other alternative fuels such as waste or straight vegetable oil may require your diesel engines to be modified. This is not so with biodiesel. Anyone can use biodiesel immediately to fuel any conventional diesel engine today.
3. Biodiesel contain less unwanted contaminants that can do some damage to diesel engines. Biodiesel also has better lubricating properties than petroleum-based diesel and can help protect and extend the life of diesel engines. It’s a better solvent than petro-diesel and may therefore help clean the fuel lines and the engine itself by dissolving fuel residues and flush them out.
4. Biodiesel in non-toxic. It is safer to handle and transport. It is also highly biodegradable and has a higher flashpoint than conventional diesel.
5. Biodiesel can be produced from renewable oilseed crops such as soybeans, canola and mustard seed. As a renewable resource, production of this alternative fuel can go on and on as long as cultivation of such crops is continued. There is also research being done in trying to raise and harvest oil-rich algae as another source for the production of biodiesel.
Read more on The Best Biodiesel Filter for You…
Energy Tags: energy resources, clean energy
March 20, 2009
- Quality Standards of the National Biodiesel Boardâ€
Makebiodieselathome asked:The best way to by quality biodiesel is to buy it from a producer that is recommended by the national biodiesel board. It is a mistake to purchase homemade biodiesel from just anyone as it may have a volatile flash point (causing an unexpected fire in your diesel engine!) or it could have exaggerated solvent properties and scald and dissolve the components of your fuel pumps and diesel engine. The best idea is to purchase fuel only from a reputable source — from companies that are ‘certified marketers’ or ‘accredited producers’ under the BQ-9000 Biodiesel Quality program. The National Diesel Board is a very reputable organization that
rates and approves companies that have this certification. The National Biodiesel Board, the trade association for the biodiesel industry, has formed the National Biodiesel Accreditation
Commission (NBAC) to audit biodiesel production and marketers in order to enforce fuel quality standards in the US. NBAC issues a ‘Certified Biodiesel Marketer’ seal of approval for biodiesel marketers that have met all requirements of fuel accreditation audits. This seal of approval assures customers that the biodiesel fuel meets the ASTM standards for biodiesel and that the fuel supplier will stand behind its products. To refresh your memory, pure biodiesel is referred to as B100 or ‘neat’ biodiesel. A biodiesel fuel blend is pure biodiesel blended with petrodiesel. The national biodiesel board refers to biodiesel product blends are referred to as Bxx. The xx indicates the amount of biodiesel in the blend. For example, a B20 blend is 20 percent by volume biodiesel and 80 percent by volume petroleum based diesel
fuel. Read more on how to Make Your Own Biodiesel The National Diesel Board doesn’t set the quality standards for biodiesel, it simply gives a stamp of approval to biodiesel products that meet government quality control standards. So just who is responsible for setting the quality standards of biodiesel? In the case of diesel fuel (and biodiesel), the responsibility for
setting standards lies within ASTM Committee D02 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants. In order to assure that the standards are realistic and enforceable, ASTM committee D02 is comprised of fuel producers, engine equipment manufacturers, and third party interests (users, government agencies, consultants). ASTM utilizes a ballot process in which a single negative vote against a diesel fuel or biodiesel product is enough to defeat the ballot. This
means that the biodiesel product does not make the grade and will not be listed with the national biodiesel board. An ASTM standard approval for any product is not easily achieved.
Some standards can take over 10 years to gain agreement and be issued by ASTM. This rigorous, time-consuming process is why ASTM standards are so important to the national biodiesel board which has to guarantee quality biodiesel fuel to you – the consumer.
Read more on Quality Standards of the National Biodiesel Board 
Energy Tags: alternative, alternative energy
March 4, 2009
- Biodiesel Production Companies
Munya Chinongoza asked:There are many companies around the world that are involved in the production of biodiesel. The Biodiesel Company which is privately owned is one of them. The Biodiesel Company has many years of experience in the fields of sales and distribution. Based in Toronto Canada, The Biodiesel Company collects and renews fuel from the waste of cooking oil, non vegetable oils and also related feed stocks and then process them into biofuel.
When they are finished the product is then marketed. This company is always looking for new joint ventures and wants to expand from the Toronto area. They are currently working with researchers for new technology in biodiesel and its production so that only the best quality maybe available for sale on the market.
Grease Brothers make their biodiesel from vegetable oil and change it into fuel, the ultimate biodiesel guide is a company that sells instructions on how to make biodiesel so that you will be able to heat your home. Tree Hugger is a new biodiesel company that produces biodiesel through algae which has been found to be a more efficient way to make fuel. They found that algae can produce 30 times more oil per acre then the current crops that companies use do.
Other biodiesel companies include Agra Biofuels which produces over 3 million gallons of biodiesel every single year. Bently Biofuels, produce biodiesel from the oils of seeds and restaurant grease. Biodiesel production companies are the new solution to the rising prices of fuel. The fuel can be used in any diesel without having to convert it which makes it quick to Descente grate.
The majority of biodiesel production companies use canola oil. The majority of companies make it so that biodiesel meets regulatory specifications so that it can be certified for use in the engine. Although there are many companies, most use the same materials to produce biodiesel. These companies are a savior to the environment.
Read more on Biodiesel Production Companies…
Energy Tags: wind power, alternative energy
February 27, 2009
- How to Use Biodiesel Processor for Producing Biodiesel From Vegetable Oil
Muna wa Wanjiru asked:A biodiesel processor is a combination reaction vessel. It is used for producing biodiesel from vegetable oil.
An industrial processor is very much considered convenient for production volumes, which can’t produce more than10,000 t/year. The reaction and distillation process of the alcohol is a batch processing. The decantation use to happen continuously.
In the industry, a static mixer is being used with the esterification catalyst called sulphuric acid and then methanol and vegetable oil are mixed. The reactor is used for esterfication of free fatty acids. Where as in another static mixer, an alkaline catalyst generally potassium hydroxide is getting used, this is added to the methanol-oil mix for the transesterfication.
Now in the Second reactor, the process is called transesterfication occurs. While in the third mixer, various outcomes from a reaction are biodiesel, glycerol and methanol solvent. It is being nullified by introducing a simple mineral acid. The alcohol being separated in flash vaporizer called as distillation unit. The condensed Vapors of methanol are sent to the reception unit for introducing again in the cycle.
Now the remaining products in the flash vaporizer namely, biodiesel, glycerol, salts and water, are sent to continuous decanter, which separate biodiesel from rest of the by-products. The light phase which is getting created in the decanter is en tot the storage tank and remaining heavy phase is sent to another storage tank for latter purification. After this phase, it contains 80 to 90% pure glycerol, water and salts.
Biodiesel and glycerin purification ca be done in high vacuum evaporators. There is typical design called as wiped film evaporator, where products used to be clearly differentiated from various salts by thermal as well as mechanical methods.
The quantity of raw material which is required to produce 1000kg of biodiesel and 112 kg of glycerol.
It requires 1030kg of refined vegetable oil. It requires 103kg of Methanol. Catalyst of quantity 6.2kg used in process of biodiesel is sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. Mineral acid required quantity is 6kg
There are some other services which should be make available like,
Cooling water service 20m
Steam 350kg
Electricity required 50KWh
Nitrogen required 3.2m
If you are making biodiesel at home, you should use any triglyceride fat or animal tallow or vegetable oil. You should have a strong base namely, sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, also pure alcohol. You should have longer chain alcohol; it must be longer than isopropyl alcohol. You can use oil for processing which is often obtained in restaurants.
There are different methods for producing biodiesel. It is generally produced in small batch processors in the garage. But now some used to adapted processors to fit at the back of vans. It is transportable. One of the major difficulty being Dealt by various biodiesel homebrewers is just to make a mid scale biodiesel processors sufficiently very simple to cheap, safe and easy to make appropriate.
Read more on How to Use Biodiesel Processor for Producing Biodiesel From Vegetable Oil…
Energy Tags: solar power, battery technology
February 17, 2009
- The Advent of Biodiesel Algae Power
Matt Oconnor asked:With the increasing interest in biodiesel as an alternative fuel for diesel engine cars, further studies are being made in order to discover a means to process such alternative fuels in amounts that will be able to compete with current petroleum based fuels.
Unfortunately, biodiesel supply still falls below the increasing demand for it. Partly responsible for this is the insufficient supply of straight and waste vegetable oil needed to convert into biodiesel.
And because vegetable oil may not be able to sufficiently supply the demand for biodiesel, other alternative sources are being tapped to accommodate some of the shortfall. Microscopic algae have come to the attention of many scientists as a probable source of biodiesel. Algae can range from a small single cell to multi-cellular organisms. They are very common in damp places and can usually be found in aquatic environments.
Just like plants algae makes use of photosynthesis in order to convert sunlight into chemical energy. What makes algae suitable for biodiesel production is their lipid and fat content. Different species of algae may contain in between two to 40 percent of lipids or oil in terms of weight. It is this oil content that can be used to produce quality biodiesel.
There are many benefits known from processing biodiesel from algae. First of all, algae have rapid growth rates that are seen to be faster than in growing plants such as soy for biodiesel production. Algae can also come up with a high per acre yield in oil compared to other plant sources. Biodiesel produced from algae is highly biodegradable and contains no sulfur so it is seen as cleaner and a more environment friendly fuel source.
Methods are being developed today in order to improve algae cultivation. Over 300 species of algae are seen to be suitable for biodiesel production. With this wealth of oil sources, algae has proven to be a very promising area for further research and development. This is great news and means oils sources for biodiesel production need not depend on terrestrial plant cultivation anymore.
Currently, most of the oil being converted into biodiesel still comes from sunflower and rapeseed, with the alcohol used in the process coming from beets, corn and wheat. These plants may take some time to grow and may require the cooperation of the weather in order to produce a good harvest.
Algae on the other hand, can be harvested in a matter of days with the next batch already waiting for harvest in the coming days. As newer technologies are being developed in the cultivation and production of microscopic algae, a new biodiesel source has been discovered.
With both technologies coming together, the future of biodiesel production seems very bright indeed. The time has come for the world to find alternative sources of energy that may be able to supplement or totally replace petroleum as the major source of fuel. We owe it all to trying to preserve and protect the environment. Petroleum based fuels have done their part in trying to pollute our planet.
By trying to minimize its use, we can help in trying to hold off further pollution. Biodiesel production is helping in advancing this cause and will minimize the world’s reliance on fossil fuels as the main energy source. With algae seen as the next exciting breakthrough, it will only take time for more people to make use of biodiesel and help make the world a better place to live in.
Read more on The Advent of Biodiesel Algae Power…
Energy Tags: biodiesel, battery technology
December 9, 2008
- Making Biodiesel at Home Could be as Easy as This
Muna wa Wanjiru asked:Biodiesel is a fuel or a type of diesel that is prepared from the degradation or processing of biodegradable material as substances. Biodiesel is a fuel that burns more efficiently than any other fuel and also burns more cleanly. The clean burning of the fuel also results in the low emission of harmful gasses, i.e. we get a better environment to live in. The biodiesel is the only unconventional fuel that is recommended by the American and the European Governments.
Biodiesel is quite easy to prepare and hence can be easily made at home. Making biodiesel at home is a lot more cost effective. For making biodiesel at home you will need the following materials.
1. First you will need a fresh cooking vegetable oil. For the biodiesel to be more cost effective you can use the cheapest oil that you can find
2. Then you will need the ‘Lye’ or the caustic soda. You will need approximately 5 grams of caustic soda. The caustic soda can be found anywhere. Most of the drains cleaning powders have it.
3. The third thing you will need is Methanol. You can find it in supply stores for the auto industry. It is usually found in the anti-freeze section.
Read more on Making Biodiesel at Home Could be as Easy as This…
Read more on Making Biodiesel at Home Could be as Easy as This…
Energy Tags: wind power, solar energy
December 7, 2008
- Biodiesel And It’s Many Uses
Mike Boyd asked:With gas prices increasing and growing environmental awareness, the need to consider alternate energy and fuel sources are becoming a necessity. One alternative is the use of Biodiesel fuel, which is becoming more and more popular today.
Because Biodiesel is a cleaner-burning diesel fuel, made from 100% natural, 100% renewable vegetable sources, its uses in today’s society may surprise you. Below are nine ways Biodiesel is being used. Some of which you may never have realized.
1) Biodiesel Car Rental – Yes that’s right. A Maui and Los Angeles car rental rents cars that run on Biodiesel. These cars get between 400 and 800 miles per tank! Not bad when consider the price of gas these days.
2) Home heating fuel – More people are taking a look at Biodiesel as an alternative for heating their home. Most oil-fired or boiler furnaces can use Biodiesel (B20), which is a fuel made of 80 percent traditional heating oil and 20 percent Biodiesel. Some people are getting their furnaces adapted to be able to burn B100, a fuel made entirely of vegetable oils, which burns much cleaner than traditional heating oil.
Read more on Biodiesel And It’s Many Uses…
Energy Tags: energy resources, clean energy
December 6, 2008
- Save Money with a Biodiesel Kit
Andrew Bicknell asked:With the rising gas prices of today many people have begun to look for an alternative way to put fuel in their cars. A biodiesel kit fits the bill for many people who have started making this oil saving fuel in their own backyards. And why not make your own fuel, the hit to wallets and bank accounts with high gasoline prices makes finding alternative fuel sources imperative these days, particularly with the price of gas and oil in the news on a daily basis.
A biodiesel kit is a great way to save a substantial amount of money on your fuel costs. The basic function of such a kit is to convert vegetable oil into biodiesel, a fuel source that can be used in vehicles that currently run on diesel fuel. It is important to note that not all car companies endorse the use of biodiesel fuel in their vehicles and will void the warranty if an engine is damaged by its use. Be sure to research this before buying a new vehicle with a diesel engine. For older diesel cars and trucks there are engine conversion kits that will make the change to cleaner burning biodiesel much easier.
There is a minimal amount of supplies needed to use a biodiesel kit. You will need basic tap water, methanol and access to a good amount of vegetable oil, which can usually be obtained from restaurants and such. You can set the kit up just about anywhere, although most people do put them outside in a shed or under an overhang. You will be making a fuel oil so setting up in the house may not be a real good idea.
When it comes to pricing a kit the more features to be found the more expensive the kit. The most expensive models are built to prevent fumes and odors from escaping during the refining process. Having an odorless refining process may be important for those wishing to refine their fuel near their home. If you live on a farm or a large acreage this may not be as important as the kit can be located farther from the house. Of course if you can afford it go ahead and get the more expensive closed system just because they are very easy to use.
If for some reason you already have a large amount of cooking oil that you need to dispose of then a biodiesel kit would work perfectly. It does take more time to process used oil but the results are the same, a more environmentally friendly fuel that can be put into a diesel powered vehicle.
Considering that the price of gasoline is on an ever rising trend making biodiesel for personal use can be seen as a smart move. Having your own biodiesel kit producing a constant supply of a low cost environmentally friendly fuel right in your own backyard would remove the sting of high pump prices.
Read more on Save Money with a Biodiesel Kit…
Energy Tags: solar energy, biodiesel
November 4, 2008
- Diesel From Fungus? Could This Rock The Oil Industry?
Deep in the jungles of Patagonia Gary Strobel of Montana St University has found a fungus which produces a type of diesel which could hold great promise for the world of fuel devlopement. By synthesizing plant material to the later stage diesel product it essentially skips the chemical intenisves stages of diesel production. It could be a fascinating find for the energy world.
A team led by a Montana State University professor has found a fungus that produces a new type of diesel fuel, which they say holds great promise.
Calling the fungus’ output “myco-diesel,” Gary Strobel and his collaborators describe their initial observations in the November issue of Microbiology, which carries a photo of the fungus on its cover.
The discovery may offer an alternative to fossil fuels, said Strobel, MSU professor of plant sciences and plant pathology. The find is even bigger, he said, than his 1993 discovery of fungus that contained the anticancer drug taxol.
Read more on Diesel From Fungus? Could This Rock The Oil Industry?…
Energy Tags: energy resources, battery technology
June 2, 2008
- Biodiesel at LeMans – Audi to try and continue winning ways
Audi won at Le Mans with its diesel fueled engines and now it wants to return and win again only this time running its race cars on biodiesel.Read more on Biodiesel at LeMans – Audi to try and continue winning ways…
Energy Tags: hybrid cars, alternative energy
May 24, 2008
- Summer Fuel Crunch – Can Biodiesel Help?
According to an industry release this week biodiesel could help out with the summer energy crunch as drivers face higher and higher gas prices.
Here is a sample of that release:
Read more on Summer Fuel Crunch – Can Biodiesel Help?…
Energy Tags: wind power, alternative energy
April 15, 2008
- Biodiesel Fuel Benefits Both Human Health and the Environment
There is growing interest in the development of biodiesel fuel as more and more positive benefits are found for this alternative fuel source. It’s not that it’s just a good alternative to our reliance on imported oil but it is also been shown to have a positive impact on our own health and the environment as a whole.
Read more on Biodiesel Fuel Benefits Both Human Health and the Environment…
Energy Tags: solar power, biodiesel
April 14, 2008
- Biodiesel Fuel Testing – Voluntary and Mandatory Standards
Biodiesel is an inexpensive, environmentally friendly source of energy. These benefits have sparked the public’s interest in using this to fuel their cars. This increased interest has motivated many new companies and hobbyists to become producers and sellers of this new fuel.
Read more on Biodiesel Fuel Testing – Voluntary and Mandatory Standards…
Energy Tags: solar power, battery technology
November 29, 2007
- Green Iowa – Big in Biodiesel
Iowa, nicked named the Tall Corn State on account of its most common crop, is a medium sized state situated in the Midwestern region of the USA. The state is an unlikely leader in green fuel; it is the largest producer of ethanol, a major producer of biodiesel (manufacturing more than 15 million gallons per year from its two biodiesel plants) and boasts the 3rd largest wind powder economy in America.
