Biodiesel confusion

Rudolph Diesel designed his compression engines to be run on peanut oil — the original biodiesel fuel. Why haven’t diesels run on peanut oil all these years? Cost, mainly. Petroleum-based diesel oil (essentially the same as home heating oil) works well, too. Until recently, petro-diesel was always more abundant and less expensive than peanut oil, canola oil, soybean oil, and most of the other fuels that will work in a diesel engine. Many people are confused by the term “biodiesel,” because it’s commonly used to refer not only to vegetable oil that has been through a transesterification process to remove glycerin (thus enabling it to be run in an unmodified diesel engine), but straight vegetable oil (SVO); waste vegetable oils that can be tanked separately, filtered, warmed, and run through a diesel (WVO); and oils from animal fats, algae, and a small host of other sources.

It's best to think of biodiesel as a fuel that can be run in an unmodified engine. If you’re interested in buying ready-made biodiesel to run in your diesel vehicle or home furnace, the surest solution for now is to seek out soy-based biodiesel made to strict industry specifications (ASTM D6751). Biodiesel that meets this standard is registered with the EPA and is considered a legal fuel in every sense.

~ Doug Logan, New Energy Watch

Comments

[Maria JK Hars]

I am a sustainable designer & owner of a start up company designing and building small homes which are are off the grid. I am very interested in Bio-fuel for cars, trucks, and homes. I am looking for 100% bio-fuel (isn't mixed with fossil fuel)as a backup heat source (wind, water, solar & pellet are primary sources for heat & electricity). What do you suggest?

[Doug Logan]

Hi Maria --

It's pretty unusual for a house to be heated with straight B100, which starts to gel at a significantly higher temperature than fuel oil. In cold weather this can lead to clogged fuel lines, pumps, and burner nozzles. So in temperate and chilly climates you would need to have your tank, fuel lines, and all equipment in a heated basement or furnace room. Also, B100 acts as a solvent that can damage natural rubber hoses and gaskets, and soften other materials that haven't been designed to work with solvent liquids. All that said, it can be done. Here's a link that might help you get started:

http://alison97215.wordpress.com/2008/02/17/heating-our-house-with-biodiesel/

Best wishes,

Doug Logan