BioDiesel & Ethanol & Issues About Our Energy Future Chris Kobus, Ph.D. Asst. Professor of Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering Oakland University Embrace the Earth
Today s discussion.. What is BioDiesel? Quick overview? How is it made? Demonstration: Biodiesel in Your kitchen Why use alternative fuels? What s wrong with Oil? Why should we care? What Do We Do? Lastly, we ll check back on our kitchen biodiesel demonstration Main Hallway Background Photo: Canola Plant
What is Biodiesel? Renewable fuel for diesel engines Made from vegetable oil or animal fat Lower emissions, biodegradable, non-toxic and safer than petroleum diesel High centane number, high lubricity, good for your engine FA FA FA Fatty Acid Alcohol Glycerin FA Biodiesel Vegetable Oil Alcohol Glycerin
100 lbs. of veggie oil + 10 lbs. methanol = 100 lbs. biodiesel (B100) + 10 lbs. of glycerin
Transesterification
Existing diesel engines & Existing fuel infrastructure Pure Biodiesel (B100) or blended with petroleum diesel (example: B20, 20% biodiesel) Rudolf Diesel: peanut oil (the earth nut) No engine modifications required Use existing fuel distribution network Available now US grown
Start Here 1 liter of oil 5 6 120 o F KITCHEN BIODIESEL 10 250 ml 1 4 7 shake vigorously with TIGHT lid pour oil in bottle biodiesel glycerin Images courtesy of www.kitchen-biodiesel.com 3 one full tsp (5g) add lye meth. 2 9 8 shake and let react for 1 hour
More about biodiesel Shake our processors for 5-10 minutes And then, set on table to allow glycerin to settle out we ll return to it later Now, some more on biodiesel our friend, the soybean Background Photo: Canola Plant
Small Scale Processors www.biodieselsolutions.com www.biodieselgear.com www.journeytoforever.org Better yet. make your own!
European biodiesel uses canola: a genetically modified rapeseed plant, or Canada Oil from the mustard family US biodiesel industry uses the soybean Yellow Grease: recycled cooking oil Soybean
Bio Fuels Recycle CO2
Biodiesel Blends Biodiesel Petroleum diesel B100 B20 B10 B5 B2 0 50 100 B100 = 100% biodiesel B20 = 20% biodiesel + 80% petroleum diesel B10 = 10% biodiesel + 90% petroleum diesel B5 = 5% biodiesel + 95% petroleum diesel B2 = 2% biodiesel + 98% petroleum diesel
Biodiesel Performance Startup, range, cold weather performance similar to petroleum diesel Fuel consumption, horsepower, torque, haulage rates similar to petroleum diesel images courtesy of the National Biodiesel Board
Biodiesel Performance High Lubricity 2% biodiesel improves fuel lubricity by up to 66% Protects, extends engine life High Flash Point 260ºF vs. 125ºF diesel Safest fuel to use, handle, and store Biodegradable images courtesy of the National Biodiesel Board
Biodiesel Performance Operates in conventional diesel engines and fuel injection equipment Cold Flow For B2-B20 use same precautions as #2 petroleum diesel No special storage required images courtesy of the National Biodiesel Board
Liquid Fuels Energy Yield* - Life Cycle Basis 5.00 Energy Yield 4.00 3.00 2.00 1.00 0.74 0.83 1.34 2.62 3.20 - Source: Gasoline Diesel Ethanol (Corn) Ethanol (Cellulosic USDA/DOE Study Lifecycle Inventory of Biodiesel and Crop) Petroleum Diesel for Use in an Urban Bus., May 98, Institute For Local Self Reliance, 8/95. Biodiesel * Ratio of (liquid fuel end energy out) per (unit of fossil fuel energy in) to produce
63% import 37% local 2003 US Petroleum Flow 66% transportation source: US Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration
US Petroleum Overview imports exceed domestic production source: US Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration
Estimates of World Petroleum Reserves
Oil Production (non-petro) Crop US billion gal/yr Soybean 2.4 Peanut 0.03 Sunflower 0.13 Cottonseed 0.13 Corn 0.32 Others 0.09 Total 3.11 Background Photo: Canola Plant
Oil Production Animal Fats US billion gal/yr Edible Tallow 0.21 Inedible Tallow 0.51 Lard & Grease 0.17 Yellow Grease 0.35 Poultry Fat 0.29 Total 3.11 Background Photo: Canola Plant
Total US Annual Oil Production (non-petroleum) 4.64 billion gallons Total US Annual Petroleum Consumption (transportation only) 60 billion gallon (diesel) 120 billion gallons (gasoline) Background Photo: Canola Plant
Crop Yields Crop US gal/acre Corn 18 Soybean 48 Sunflower 102 Canola 127 Olive 129 Avocado 282 Coconut 287 Palm 635 Algea 5,000 20,000 Background Photo: Canola Plant
Why use alternative fuels? Dependence on foreign sources National security US based jobs & profits Lets produce our energy here at home Environmental issues Coal: for electricity emissions yield acid rain, mercury, CO 2 Oil: for transportation emissions = smog, CO 2 Background Photo: Canola Plant
What To Do? At Home, At Work, in your Car Cheapest Path Energy Conservation Renewable Energy solar, wind, & biomass Renewable Fuels ethanol, gasahol (E10), E85, methanol natural gas biodiesel B20 (let s start with B2) Technology to the Rescue hybrid vehicles diesels (30-40% more efficient than gas) Background Photo: Canola Plant
2004 2004 Vehicles Vehicles Diesel vs Hybrid
BioDiesel Fuel Pump (20%) BP Station on Will Carlton Rd off of I-275 just west of Flat Rock, MI
City of Ann Arbor, Michigan
Natural Gas Fueling Station, Ann Arbor Meijer s Store
Chemical Composition Ethyl alcohol or EtOH E85 refers to 85% ethanol/15% gasoline blend Petroleum added to: Improve cold-start Increase flame luminosity Denature or poison ethanol (grain alcohol)
E85 Characteristics Ethanol is toxic Ethanol does not contaminate ground water or soil Ethanol is used as E85 (85% E85/15% gasoline blend) E70 during winter to reduce cold start
Appearance & Smell Colorless Odor pleasant smell
E85 Properties - 3 Fuel value Octane E85: 100-plus octane (as high as 105) Gasoline: 86-94 Lower heating value (27% less energy) E85: 87,250 Btu/gal Gasoline: 114,00 BTU/gal
Compared to Other Fuels Ethanol CH 3 CH 2 OH Gasoline C 8 H 30 Diesel C 14 H 30 Methanol CH 3 OH Biodiesel C 15 H 31 CO 2 CH 3 Natural Gas CH 4 Propane C 3 H 8
Fueling Station Aluminum parts should be replaced with stainless steel: Nozzle, knobs, etc. Teflon hose 1 micron filter $5,000 to upgrade unleaded system to dispense E85
Capacity