Professional Documents
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Biodiesel Definition
Key Properties of Biodiesel
Resources
Biodiesel Defined
Biodiesel, n. -- a fuel comprised of mono-
alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids
derived from vegetable oils or animal fats,
meeting ASTM D 6751, designated B100.
Biodiesel Blend, n. -- a blend of biodiesel
fuel with petroleum-based diesel fuel
designated BXX, where XX is the volume
percent of biodiesel.
• This tight definition was needed in order to secure
vehicle, engine and fuel injection equipment company
support for biodiesel, as well as to secure ASTM specs
Biodiesel (B100) Attributes
High Cetane (avg. over 50)
Ultra Low Sulfur (avg. ~ 2 ppm)
High Lubricity, even in blends as low as 1-2%
High Energy Balance (4.5 to 1)
Renewable, Sustainable, Domestically Produced
Increases overall fuel production capacity in USA
Reduces HC, PM, CO in existing diesel engines
Enhanced Lubricity
Equipment benefits
Superior lubricity
Ultra-low Sulfur Diesel B2 has up to 66% more
lubricity than #2 Diesel
800
700 EPA required sulfur
600
500
reduction in diesel
400
300
No overdosing concerns
200
100 WSD (micron)
HFRR
0
0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0
Biodiesel Blend (%)
Cold Weather Performance
Pure biodiesel does freeze faster than most
petrodiesel
Your B20 supplier should provide blends of B20
that will not cause any cold flow issues in the
winter
Exactly the same way they do with #2 diesel fuel
There are a variety of tools at the disposal of
distributors to improve the cold flow operability
of #2 petrodiesel and biodiesel blends
Blending with #1, cold flow additives, etc.
B20 has been used successfully in climates
below -20ºF
Biodiesel Fuel Stability
The biodiesel specification contains
parameters for insuring adequate fuel
stability for normal applications
The shelf life of biodiesel blends is
open market
Solvency Effect
B20 & Under
Monitor filters, less than 2% need to be
changed
Mild cleaning effect
Storage tanks may need to be cleaned, or
keep extra filters on hand at start up
Housekeeping protocols for generic diesel
equally important prior to blending
Fuel System
Material compatibility is key for higher blends
Repair Fuel leaks to prevent impact to other systems!
API, CI rating
program
Inspect dipstick for biodiesel smell
Lube Oil Contamination
Current ongoing research, SAE CI Engine
Performance with Alternative Fuels, 2008
A concern of engine manufacturers.
Same mechanism for the oil dilution for heavier
fractions of diesel fuel as for biodiesel.
Due to high boiling point of biodiesel, the fuel is
slower to vaporize after injection into the cylinder.
Remaining compounds will be deposited on the
cylinder wall where they can be pulled into the
crankcase by the normal scraping action of the
piston's oil control rings.
Air Filtration
In a diesel engine, the amount of air remains
constant while fuel amount is varied for speed
and power control
Lean mixture at idle ( 80:1 )
Rich mixture under load (20:1)
Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor
VW TDI EGR/ Intake design
Diesels thrive on air, lots of it, any air restriction
will cause performance problems
Starting & Charging System
Properly charged battery
Operating Starter or Alternator
starting
Glow plugs factory recalls
can affect:
Brakes, Fuel shutoff, & transmissions
Cooling System
Cooling system helps your engine warm up &
cool down
Operating at optimum temperature helps
recommended intervals
Educate your fellow technicians
http://www.biodiesel.org/resources/oe
ms
for a complete listing of OEM
position statements on biodiesel,
as well as the current U.S. Diesel
Vehicles List
NBB Resources
www.biodiesel.org
Biodiesel Training Toolkit
News Releases & Information Resources
Technical Library, Spec Sheets & Videos
OEM Warranty Positions on Biodiesel
U.S. Diesel Vehicle List
www.BiodieselAutomotive.org
Dedicated to information exchange for biodiesel & diesel
technicians
www.BQ-9000.org
Listing of BQ-9000 Certified Companies
www.biotrucker.com
Listing of BioTrucker retail sites