Outline
I Introduction
The lust for energy and power as our economy and technology expands is causing humanity to act very self-destructively, using ancient carbon deposits and spewing their noxious emissions into our steadily warming atmosphere. It is obvious that we cannot sustain our hunger on petroleum and fossil fuels forever, and to overcome our imminent downfall as our oil reserves deplete, we must look to alternative fuel sources to support ourselves until the energy crisis can be solved permanently. As our non-renewable fuels dry up and our atmosphere fills with their exhaust, we must look to renewable and clean bio-fuels such as biodiesel to supplement our energy use.
II Background
The first step to utilizing biodiesel to support our infrastructure is understanding its history, production, and advantages.
Today, biodiesel is a fuel used in compression ignition engines which is derived from feedstock and economically non-competitive oils. These sources are most often vegetable oil, animal fats, or algae biomass composed primarily of lipids and triglycerides. This fuel can be mixed in proportion to petroleum in order to supplement standard diesel. (Wikipedia; Biodiesel) “Biodiesel is the product obtained through the transesterification of animal fats or vegetable oil, yielding fatty acid methyl esters or FAME” (Kemp; 107) The process of transesterification is where the fat molecule in the form of a glycerin molecule bonded to 3 fatty acids (hydrocarbon chains) is torn apart by the addition of methanol alongside an alkaline catalyst such as sodium or potassium hydroxide, resulting in the transfer of each fatty acid to a methanol molecule and leaving the glycerin byproduct which is then filtered out. The chemical properties such as viscosity and free fatty acids (FFAs) of the resulting liquid are dependent on the type of oil or fat used. (Kemp; 108-9)
1 Biodiesel origins
a Biodiesel was the original fuel intended to be used in diesel engines, as Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the diesel engine had originally used peanut oil to demonstrate his newly invented engine at the 1900 Paris World Fair (Wikipedia; Rudolf Diesel) While Rudolf Diesel used peanut oil, our production process of biodiesel is based upon a chemical reaction called transesterification.
Biodiesel has undergone 3 generations since the discovery of transesterification in 1853, when two chemists, E. Duffy and J. Patrick, experimented with the process while trying to make soap. (History of Biofuels) The 1st generation was based upon food-stocks, or human consumed food oils. This generation was not useful because it competed with food markets to produce biodiesel, which made the cost of biodiesel unfathomable. Second generation biodiesel was generated from feed-stocks, which is raw natural biomass which is processed specifically for use in biodiesel. These feed-stocks did not compete with markets to the extent that food-stocks do, but their competition at all still made biodiesel inconvenient at higher production rates. Lastly, third generation biodiesel depends on algae biomass with high triglyceride content such as Chlorella. Third generation biodiesel has recently been developed, and promises a green biofuel which does not compete with any industries for their feed-stocks, making it affordable as well. Since biodiesel has always been limited by the cost of production, which is mostly dependent upon the generation of biodiesel being produced, it can now be competitively cost effective to produce and use when compared to diesel.
This comparison between diesel and biodiesel is becoming ever more important as biodiesel begins to offer an affordable, renewable, ecologically friendly fuel alternative from the polluting petroleum used so recklessly. Petroleum diesel is a derivative of crude oil, which has been refined through the careful distillation of the oil in order to separate the different hydrocarbon molecules by taking advantage of their varying boiling points. (Kemp; 59) The end result of the refining and treatment of the crude oil are saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons. (Wikipedia; Diesel fuel) Compared to this, biodiesel is a much cleaner fuel, containing less sulfur oxides and sulfates while producing fewer unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter. The improved emissions can be credited to the inherently higher purity of biodiesel. (Kemp; ??) In addition, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy have conducted studies on the lifecycle of biodiesel, and how its emissions affect our atmosphere. They found that while biodiesel is slightly less energy efficient when produced, the CO2 emissions, particulate matter, and carbon monoxide emissions are all lowered. (Sheehan; 33)
Biodiesel can generally be used in all modern diesel engines, post 1992 of course. This is because natural rubber, which is susceptible to degradation in contact with biodiesel, stopped being used in 1992. Since then, biodiesel has been used in various mixtures with petroleum diesel, partly supplementing the use of fossil fuels. Biodiesel/petroleum diesel mixtures are referred to by BXX where XX is the percentage of biodiesel in the mixture (B20 = 20% biodiesel, B100 refers to 100% biodiesel).
Thesis: Biodiesel fuels can be used in virtually all diesel engines, and the application of new vehicle designs integrating diesel engines will allow the promising fuel to become more common as the world begins to demand renewable, affordable, and environmentally friendly energy sources
Now that we have a basic understanding of biodiesel, we now must look at the fundamental role of biodiesel in relieving the world’s addiction to fossil fuels. Oil, followed closely by coal and natural gas, is the most widely used fuel in the world. Oil is a very general fuel source, and is refined and distilled to separate it into different fuels like gasoline and diesel, and lubricants like grease and motor oil, along with countless other uses
A Worlds addiction to petroleum
1 Gasoline
a requires refining
b most common consumer fuel
2 Conventional petroleum diesel
a Requires refining from oil
b used for heavy machinery and large transportation
3 The engines we depend upon for so much will eventually run out of fuel
a no travel, no shipping, globalization crippled
b how can we support ourselves until we find a better energy source?
B Biodiesel has the potential to support our failing infrastructure
1 This should only be a temporary solution
a as the smog forming emissions (NOx) could worsen global warming
b a more ecological and efficient fuel source should be sought
2 It could support trucking, rail, and agricultural industries
a this would allow us to continue to explore alternative fuels
b ideally we have enough time before suffocating in exhaust
3 The world dependency on oil is similar to a drug addict’s dependency on heroin
a could biodiesel be compared to methadone
b used (sometimes successfully) to wean the drug addict off the drug
IV How can biodiesel be spread world wide
A Making diesel engines available everywhere
1 diesel in second and third world countries
a lower fuel quality in these areas
b diesel can have more variable fuel qualities than gasoline
c causing diesel to be more common in poorer world countries
2 Diesel in second world countries
a gasoline is more widely used in the richer countries of the world
b the trucking and rail industries in these countries run on diesel
c diesel engines are still widely available in first world countries
B If you build it, biodiesel will come
1 Since biodiesel can be used in all newer diesel engines
a the general infrastructure to support the world on biodiesel is there
b and gasoline could be replaced without too much chaos
2 Will the world be willing?
V Application of biodiesel into alternative transportation
A Fuel efficient alternative vehicles
1 2 Wheeled vehicles
a motorcycles can get >100mpg in more efficient models
b faster, more versatile, mobile than conventional cars
2 3 wheeled vehicles
a microcars are extremely efficient
b compact size and efficient construction for mobility
B Biodiesel and diesel in conventional gasoline engines
1 Conversion of gasoline engine to diesel
a the engine itself can usually not be made to run on diesel
b easier to replace engine than redesign or modify
2 Installation of diesel engine
a generally, the a diesel engine can be modifier to fit inside a conventional gasoline vehicle
b the challenge lies in connecting the powertrain due to…
VI Conclusion
I Introduction
The lust for energy and power as our economy and technology expands is causing humanity to act very self-destructively, using ancient carbon deposits and spewing their noxious emissions into our steadily warming atmosphere. It is obvious that we cannot sustain our hunger on petroleum and fossil fuels forever, and to overcome our imminent downfall as our oil reserves deplete, we must look to alternative fuel sources to support ourselves until the energy crisis can be solved permanently. As our non-renewable fuels dry up and our atmosphere fills with their exhaust, we must look to renewable and clean bio-fuels such as biodiesel to supplement our energy use.
II Background
The first step to utilizing biodiesel to support our infrastructure is understanding its history, production, and advantages.
Today, biodiesel is a fuel used in compression ignition engines which is derived from feedstock and economically non-competitive oils. These sources are most often vegetable oil, animal fats, or algae biomass composed primarily of lipids and triglycerides. This fuel can be mixed in proportion to petroleum in order to supplement standard diesel. (Wikipedia; Biodiesel) “Biodiesel is the product obtained through the transesterification of animal fats or vegetable oil, yielding fatty acid methyl esters or FAME” (Kemp; 107) The process of transesterification is where the fat molecule in the form of a glycerin molecule bonded to 3 fatty acids (hydrocarbon chains) is torn apart by the addition of methanol alongside an alkaline catalyst such as sodium or potassium hydroxide, resulting in the transfer of each fatty acid to a methanol molecule and leaving the glycerin byproduct which is then filtered out. The chemical properties such as viscosity and free fatty acids (FFAs) of the resulting liquid are dependent on the type of oil or fat used. (Kemp; 108-9)
1 Biodiesel origins
a Biodiesel was the original fuel intended to be used in diesel engines, as Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the diesel engine had originally used peanut oil to demonstrate his newly invented engine at the 1900 Paris World Fair (Wikipedia; Rudolf Diesel) While Rudolf Diesel used peanut oil, our production process of biodiesel is based upon a chemical reaction called transesterification.
Biodiesel has undergone 3 generations since the discovery of transesterification in 1853, when two chemists, E. Duffy and J. Patrick, experimented with the process while trying to make soap. (History of Biofuels) The 1st generation was based upon food-stocks, or human consumed food oils. This generation was not useful because it competed with food markets to produce biodiesel, which made the cost of biodiesel unfathomable. Second generation biodiesel was generated from feed-stocks, which is raw natural biomass which is processed specifically for use in biodiesel. These feed-stocks did not compete with markets to the extent that food-stocks do, but their competition at all still made biodiesel inconvenient at higher production rates. Lastly, third generation biodiesel depends on algae biomass with high triglyceride content such as Chlorella. Third generation biodiesel has recently been developed, and promises a green biofuel which does not compete with any industries for their feed-stocks, making it affordable as well. Since biodiesel has always been limited by the cost of production, which is mostly dependent upon the generation of biodiesel being produced, it can now be competitively cost effective to produce and use when compared to diesel.
This comparison between diesel and biodiesel is becoming ever more important as biodiesel begins to offer an affordable, renewable, ecologically friendly fuel alternative from the polluting petroleum used so recklessly. Petroleum diesel is a derivative of crude oil, which has been refined through the careful distillation of the oil in order to separate the different hydrocarbon molecules by taking advantage of their varying boiling points. (Kemp; 59) The end result of the refining and treatment of the crude oil are saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons. (Wikipedia; Diesel fuel) Compared to this, biodiesel is a much cleaner fuel, containing less sulfur oxides and sulfates while producing fewer unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter. The improved emissions can be credited to the inherently higher purity of biodiesel. (Kemp; ??) In addition, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy have conducted studies on the lifecycle of biodiesel, and how its emissions affect our atmosphere. They found that while biodiesel is slightly less energy efficient when produced, the CO2 emissions, particulate matter, and carbon monoxide emissions are all lowered. (Sheehan; 33)
Biodiesel can generally be used in all modern diesel engines, post 1992 of course. This is because natural rubber, which is susceptible to degradation in contact with biodiesel, stopped being used in 1992. Since then, biodiesel has been used in various mixtures with petroleum diesel, partly supplementing the use of fossil fuels. Biodiesel/petroleum diesel mixtures are referred to by BXX where XX is the percentage of biodiesel in the mixture (B20 = 20% biodiesel, B100 refers to 100% biodiesel).
Thesis: Biodiesel fuels can be used in virtually all diesel engines, and the application of new vehicle designs integrating diesel engines will allow the promising fuel to become more common as the world begins to demand renewable, affordable, and environmentally friendly energy sources
Now that we have a basic understanding of biodiesel, we now must look at the fundamental role of biodiesel in relieving the world’s addiction to fossil fuels. Oil, followed closely by coal and natural gas, is the most widely used fuel in the world. Oil is a very general fuel source, and is refined and distilled to separate it into different fuels like gasoline and diesel, and lubricants like grease and motor oil, along with countless other uses
A Worlds addiction to petroleum
1 Gasoline
a requires refining
b most common consumer fuel
2 Conventional petroleum diesel
a Requires refining from oil
b used for heavy machinery and large transportation
3 The engines we depend upon for so much will eventually run out of fuel
a no travel, no shipping, globalization crippled
b how can we support ourselves until we find a better energy source?
B Biodiesel has the potential to support our failing infrastructure
1 This should only be a temporary solution
a as the smog forming emissions (NOx) could worsen global warming
b a more ecological and efficient fuel source should be sought
2 It could support trucking, rail, and agricultural industries
a this would allow us to continue to explore alternative fuels
b ideally we have enough time before suffocating in exhaust
3 The world dependency on oil is similar to a drug addict’s dependency on heroin
a could biodiesel be compared to methadone
b used (sometimes successfully) to wean the drug addict off the drug
IV How can biodiesel be spread world wide
A Making diesel engines available everywhere
1 diesel in second and third world countries
a lower fuel quality in these areas
b diesel can have more variable fuel qualities than gasoline
c causing diesel to be more common in poorer world countries
2 Diesel in second world countries
a gasoline is more widely used in the richer countries of the world
b the trucking and rail industries in these countries run on diesel
c diesel engines are still widely available in first world countries
B If you build it, biodiesel will come
1 Since biodiesel can be used in all newer diesel engines
a the general infrastructure to support the world on biodiesel is there
b and gasoline could be replaced without too much chaos
2 Will the world be willing?
V Application of biodiesel into alternative transportation
A Fuel efficient alternative vehicles
1 2 Wheeled vehicles
a motorcycles can get >100mpg in more efficient models
b faster, more versatile, mobile than conventional cars
2 3 wheeled vehicles
a microcars are extremely efficient
b compact size and efficient construction for mobility
B Biodiesel and diesel in conventional gasoline engines
1 Conversion of gasoline engine to diesel
a the engine itself can usually not be made to run on diesel
b easier to replace engine than redesign or modify
2 Installation of diesel engine
a generally, the a diesel engine can be modifier to fit inside a conventional gasoline vehicle
b the challenge lies in connecting the powertrain due to…
VI Conclusion