Difference between revisions of "Biofuels an overview"

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Biofuels is a broad term used to describe both the use of vegetable oil and Biodiesel, and often confused between the two.
  
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Biofuels have been made for every type of engine. Spark ignited engines are designed to run on light petroleum products known as gasoline or petrol. They have also been successfully run on alcohols and ketones. Since alcohols and ketones can be produced by fermentation, and/or the distillation of various plant materials, such as wood, then they are viable renewable sources for fuels for this type of engine.
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Mechanisms by which vegetable oil can be burnt in a diesel engine, in order of safety
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* Biodiesel
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* Twin-tank
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* Blending
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* Use directly
  
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Alcohols, such as: Butanol, Ethanol, Methanol and Isopropanol are the byproduct of fermentation and can be concentrated via distillation. These alcohols have been used successfully in making alternatives to gasoline (petrol).  
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==Biodiesel==
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Biodiesel is vegetable oil that has been chemically converted. It is a much thinner liquid than vegetable oil, and suitable for use in most diesel engines.
  
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Ketones are also the byproduct of fermentation and can also be concentrated via distillation. Ketones such as: Acetone and Methyl Ethel Ketone (MEK) have also been successfully used as a gasoline (petrol) alternative.  
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==Twin-tank==
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The engine is started on diesel, run until hot, and then switched over to vegetable oil.  The oil is pre-heated before entering the injection system by the vehicles hot engine coolant. This thins the oil and helps prevent ring gumming.
  
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There are Biofuels available for compression-ignited engines. Compression-ignited engines are designed to run on heavier petroleum products known as diesel fuel. They have also been successfully run on other fuels such as vegetable oils and animal fats.
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==Blending==
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Vegetable oil is mix with Petrol or Diesel to thin the resulting liquid. This technique is considered unsuitable for direct injection and common rail engines.
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There are three basic methods for burning Biofuels in compression-ignited (diesel) engines. They are: Biodiesel, Straight Vegetable Oil, and Blending.
 
  
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==Direct==
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Suitable for only the toughest fuel injection systems and engines (those with indirect injection and Bosch rotary mechanical pumps).  Long term problems with piston ring gumming and loss of compression may occur.
  
 
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Revision as of 08:57, 10 January 2012

Biofuels is a broad term used to describe both the use of vegetable oil and Biodiesel, and often confused between the two.

Mechanisms by which vegetable oil can be burnt in a diesel engine, in order of safety

  • Biodiesel
  • Twin-tank
  • Blending
  • Use directly

Biodiesel

Biodiesel is vegetable oil that has been chemically converted. It is a much thinner liquid than vegetable oil, and suitable for use in most diesel engines.

Twin-tank

The engine is started on diesel, run until hot, and then switched over to vegetable oil. The oil is pre-heated before entering the injection system by the vehicles hot engine coolant. This thins the oil and helps prevent ring gumming.

Blending

Vegetable oil is mix with Petrol or Diesel to thin the resulting liquid. This technique is considered unsuitable for direct injection and common rail engines.

Direct

Suitable for only the toughest fuel injection systems and engines (those with indirect injection and Bosch rotary mechanical pumps). Long term problems with piston ring gumming and loss of compression may occur.

PLEASE NOTE
Biopowered wiki is aimed at an international audience. To this end all aspects of Biofuels are included. As a result some fuels may not be legal for use as road fuel in some countries without payment of duty. The reader should satisfy him or herself as to the legality of use in a specific country. See Rules and Regulations for details pertaining to the UK.
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