Water Hydro Fuel

Matt Oconnor asked:


The processing of biodiesel may require a number of biodiesel filters in order to ensure that the end product is of excellent quality. When you try to recycle waste vegetable or surplus corn oil and make them into biodiesel, you might need a biodiesel filter for your engine to make sure that contaminants can’t enter into the engine and damage it. Different biodiesel filters may be required for a number of different applications.

Biodiesel filters should have the following properties in order to work best in any given conditions:

1. High Temperature Properties. Almost any filter media can be used for water-based products. But in the case of filtering hot oils, resins and other high temperature products, a filter media that can withstand prolonged exposure to high temperatures is preferred. Biodiesel filters should be able to have excellent high temperature properties to be able to handle the filtration of biodiesel well enough.

2. Excellent Filtering. Biodiesel filters should be able to filter out the contaminants well enough in order to make a better grade product. All filters have a micron rating that determines the size of the particles that can be effectively captured by the filter media. A biodiesel filter having a 5 micron rating is preferred to provide excellent filtering properties.

3. Chemical Compatibility. A biodiesel filter should be able to withstand exposure to such chemicals as solvents, acids and alkaline solutions. A lesser quality filter may break down when exposed to such chemicals. Make sure that the biodiesel filter that you use has the property to withstand breaking down when exposed to such chemicals.

Biodiesel has become a very popular fuel alternative to petroleum-based fuel today. That is why more and more people are trying to make use of biodiesel in order to lessen their reliance on fuels based on fossil oil, which can pollute the environment. With biodiesel, people have the option to make use of a cleaner alternative. Here are just some of the key advantages of using biodiesel:

1. The use of biodiesel produces at least an 80 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. Not only that, biodiesel contains little or even no sulfur content that can result in as much as a hundred percent less sulfur dioxide being released in the air.

2. Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel available that can run in any conventional diesel engine. Other alternative fuels such as waste or straight vegetable oil may require your diesel engines to be modified. This is not so with biodiesel. Anyone can use biodiesel immediately to fuel any conventional diesel engine today.

3. Biodiesel contain less unwanted contaminants that can do some damage to diesel engines. Biodiesel also has better lubricating properties than petroleum-based diesel and can help protect and extend the life of diesel engines. It’s a better solvent than petro-diesel and may therefore help clean the fuel lines and the engine itself by dissolving fuel residues and flush them out.

4. Biodiesel in non-toxic. It is safer to handle and transport. It is also highly biodegradable and has a higher flashpoint than conventional diesel.

5. Biodiesel can be produced from renewable oilseed crops such as soybeans, canola and mustard seed. As a renewable resource, production of this alternative fuel can go on and on as long as cultivation of such crops is continued. There is also research being done in trying to raise and harvest oil-rich algae as another source for the production of biodiesel.

Matt Oconnor asked:


Biodiesel has been getting its share of interest among people in the search for alternative fuels. The cost of oils has been steadily going up in the worldwide market and many think it is time to find alternative sources to tone down in some way the rising costs of using gas and other petroleum-derived fuels. One of the alternatives found to have promise is the production of biodiesel.

Biodiesel refers to a type of processed fuel that can be derived from biological sources. It can be readily used in diesel engine vehicles. This distinguishes it from the use of straight vegetable oils (SVO) or waste vegetable oils (WVO) as the chosen alternative which requires vehicles to have modified diesel engines installed in order to make use of such fuels.

What makes biodiesel also an ideal alternative is that it is biodegradable and non-toxic. Biodiesel also provides considerably fewer combustion emissions when compared to petroleum-based diesel fuel.

Since biodiesel can readily be used in current diesel engines without having to modify them, it has the potential to supplement the use of petroleum-based fuels as a primary energy source to fill up the need of the world’s transportation sector. And not only that, biodiesel holds the promise of being used as a cheaper alternative heating fuel for domestic and commercial boilers.

Biodiesel can be used in its pure form or it may also be blended with petroleum diesel. It provides a number of advantages and benefits with its use. One of biodiesel’s better properties is its high lubricity index. Higher than that of pure petrodiesel, this excellent lubricating property of biodiesel can greatly contribute to lengthening the life of an engine’s fuel injector.

Biodiesel is also a better solvent than conventional diesel and has been shown to break down residue deposits in fuel lines that have previously been using conventional diesel products. That’s why fuel filters becoming clogged with residue particles as the biodiesel does its work of cleaning the engine has become so common. A change of filter after running 600-800 miles on biodiesel is recommended to solve this problem.

There are subsequent environmental benefits when choosing to use biodiesel over conventional petroleum based diesel. Biodiesel use results in a significantly reduced emission of carbon monoxide. Biodiesel also contains fewer hydrocarbons and can reduce tailpipe particle emissions by as much as 20 percent.

Biodiesel also has low sulfur content without compromising its natural viscosity and lubricating properties which is usually the case when using ultra-low sulfur petrodiesel varieties. It’s also biodegradable and non-toxic, which makes it a more environmentally friendly alternative.

It is being suggested by many biodiesel advocates that excess or waste vegetable oil can be the best source of oil to produce this alternative fuel. But the current available supply is unfortunately lesser than the amount of petroleum-based fuel that is burned for transportation and home heating all over the world. Gallons upon gallons of waste vegetable oil are produced by US restaurants every day.

But this may not be enough to satisfy the need for more and more fuel. Producing biodiesel from animal fats may not be feasible enough to replace petrodiesel just yet because of its limited supply. However, research is underway to find ways and to develop systems which could make biodiesel more available and help answer the growing needs of alternative fuel.

Gary Patterson asked:


No company and/or industry today are immune from the escalating cost of crude oil. In an effort to address this growing concern, companies are seeking alternative, cost-effective ways to make every drop of fuel count. Although biodiesel is not a new type of fuel, its use has not been widely considered up until now. Today, its popularity is rapidly growing as an alternative to petroleum-based fuel that can be used in various blends in unmodified diesel engines.

Biodiesel comes from vegetable oils that undergo transesterification, a chemical process that extracts methyl or ethyl esters from the oil. This extraction can be used as fuel, either in a pure or blended form. The oils come from renewable, organic sources, such as coconut, soybean, grape seed, jatropha, or from waste vegetable oil.

In an effort to promote the development and use of alternative fuels, the United States government provides incentives and tax credits to producers and users of renewable and alternative fuel, such as biodiesel. For example, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has been drafting policies that will mandate private fleets and government vehicles to replace their vehicles with those that are ready for alternative fuel (read: diesel vehicles must be biodiesel ready).

The Pros - Biodiesel is commercially available at many pumps throughout the United States as a blend with petroleum diesel. Proponents say blends of up to 20 percent (B20) may be used in most conventional diesel engines, before costly modifications are needed. Advocates assert that there is no significant difference between biodiesel and petroleum diesel when it is blended properly. In fact they argue that biodiesel provides the same mileage, torque, and horsepower that petroleum diesel provides.

Proponents stress the many advantages of using biodiesel in vehicles. For starters, it is a cleaner fuel that reduces carbon dioxide emissions up to 80%. With new regulations, biodiesel has almost zero sulfur dioxide content. Studies also suggest that lower blends of biodiesel are more fuel efficient, which makes car engines last longer. In addition, biodiesel is less of a noise pollutant in diesel engines because of its high octane ignition rating. This means biodiesel can make cold starting easier since it heats up more easily than petroleum diesel.

The beneficiaries of biodiesel will be fleet vehicles and the public transportation sector. As oil prices have increased dramatically over the past year, biodiesel is becoming a more appealing alternative because it is cheaper to produce and is more environmentally sound. In addition, the price of biodiesel may be more stable than petroleum diesel. For example, lower blends of biodiesel (B2, B5, and B10) can cost less than petroleum diesel. B20 is sold at almost a similar price to petroleum diesel, but prices are expected to decrease as petroleum prices increase in the world market while local producers and supply of biodiesel increase.

The Cons - Opponents stress that biodiesel has different solvent properties that can break down deposits in the fuel lines where petrodiesel has been used. If and when gas stations start offering biodiesel, opponents say they will need to replace fuel lines. Opponents expand their argument by stating that biodiesel can also degrade rubber components, which means that rubber fuel pumps and seals will also need to be replaced with a synthetic rubber. This is not great for consumers whose warranty may not apply if they convert to biodiesel.

One of the problem advocates gloss over, however, is that although there are good number of biodiesel suppliers in some states, other states still do not have enough suppliers and producers of biodiesel to justify the switch to biodiesel vehicles. Currently, northern central states like Minnesota, Michigan, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, and Missouri have several suppliers of biodiesel. In other states, only selected suppliers provide biodiesel to local pumps, suggesting that the proposed government mandates do not realistically consider the impact and consequences of this mandate on states where suppliers and producers are low.

Investors are quick to point out that there must be a growing demand in other states in order for businesses to justify investing in distribution facilities in other locations. That said, with petroleum prices expected to continue to rise, proponents believe that consumers will consider switching to biodiesel and other alternative fuel, thus creating a demand. With rising demand, gas stations are expected to install more pumps that carry biodiesel.

While the conversion to using more biofuels appears to be inevitable, some question how the conversion will be executed. Timing and associated costs of the changes are still not clear. There is also the issue about the direct and indirect costs of converting compounded by the question of which groups will benefit and which groups will suffer. With congressional leadership favoring the acceleration of greener energy that clearly benefits their constituents and lobbyists, there will definitely be winners and losers.

In the final analysis, the biodiesel debate points to the urgency for businesses to begin planning NOW for the inevitability of a greener world, with its intended and unintended consequences. Will you be prepared?

roosterbob asked:


The rising cost of fuel around the world gives way to exploration of alternative fuels which are more cost effective and environment friendly. Re-usable wastes are a great source of fuel to help us power our vehicles that bring us to everyday places. Biodiesel is a popular option in place of commercial petroleum.

Biodiesel was specifically designed to counter rising costs of oil products. It is especially formulated for use in Biodiesel cars and trucks with diesel engines. There are also available kits to convert engines that run on gasoline. Another good thing about this alternative fuel is that you can make it in your own garage or backyard by assembling your own Biodiesel processors oryou canproduce it in big quantities given a larger space.

When preparing your biodiesel at your own home, always wear protective eye glasses, don clothes which can cover much of your skin, and used gloves when handling the chemicals.

How Biodiesel is Produced There are several stages in the production of Biodiesel:

1. For the first few batches of Biodiesel that you will make, try to use clean vegetable oil. As you become more familiar with the process, you can collect the cooking oil from your kitchen or collect from restaurants, food stalls, etc.

2. If you are using used oil, filter the solid components like burnt meat, fish, or any food parts

3. Cautious steps must be taken to ensure that the amount of water and fatty acids in the vegetable oil are in their right levels.

4. Prepare a mixture of lye and methanol in a tightly sealed container. Roll the container several times (Note: Roll. Do not shake). In commercial production, the mixture is placed in an agitator

5. Pre-heat the vegetable oil to around 55 degrees Celsius

6. At this stage the animal or vegetable oil can then be poured onto the Biodiesel processors. The evaporation of alcohol is not permitted by making the vessels of Biodiesel processors completely sealed.

7. The mix of oil and alcohol is boiled around seventy degrees Celsius to hasten the reaction which normally takes 1-8 hours. The Biodiesel will come to its glycerin phase after this stage.

8. At this stage, glycerin is separated from the raw Biodiesel. The design of the Biodiesel processors allows gravity to take control of the separation by drawing off the glycerin at the bottom of the vessel. This stage is often called the Setting Phase

9. After Setting the mix for around 12 hours to a day, transfer the mix to the washer vessel

10. Next step is tomist or bubble wash the raw Biodiesel to rid of excess alcohol, glycerin, and other impurities.

11. The Biodiesel is then allowed to dry and is then filtered by the Biodiesel processor before it can be used as fuel.

The steps to make Biodiesel may sound complicated at the start. There are a lot of websites and books to help you understand the process more clearly. Biodiesel processors can be assembled or bought to produce Biodiesel in your backyard or for commercial use.

Biodiesel is in the horizon right now, timely for all the economic turmoil that’s happening around the world.

roosterbob asked:


Back then, we failed to realize the implications of our actions or the repercussions of a developed society highly dependent on petroleum and incessantly slave to the dictates of the mighty oil barons.

When automated vehicles were first introduced to the world, could anyone have anticipated the vast impact it will have to the economy? Who would have thought that combustion engines would turn out and be the backbone of today’s society? Decades ago, this idea seemed to be too great to fathom. However, its environmental impact was then, not recognized probably because of lack of foresight.



Biodiesel: Pros

•    Right here and now, what we have is biodiesel. This is an alternative for petroleum-based fuel that boasts a cleaner burn as compared to its expensive and environmentally unsound counterparts.

•    Biodiesel is a  renewable fuel source that stems from various resources including vegetable, canola, palm, and soybean oils.

•    In addition, this fuel releases far less nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and unburned hydrocarbons. And since biodiesel processors convert vegetable oil, it is biodegradable and non-toxic. Do not forget the absence of sulfur products as oppose to petro-diesel. Given this lack of sulfur, biodiesel still possesses the required viscosity to fully lubricate diesel engines, which cannot be easily arrived at when dealing with low-sulfur petroleum products.

•    With the proper biodiesel equipment, the fuel output can be used in almost all diesel engines with modifications that are considered discretionary. Also, having a renewable fuel source will moderate our reliance on foreign oil corporations, or dare we say, the Middle East oil tycoons. If local farmers produce the needed raw material for our biodeisel, then we do not need to import oil because we can manufacture it ourselves, right?



Biodiesel: Cons

•    The fuel generated by biodiesel processors is an inherent solvent; meaning, sooner or later it will trigger the deterioration of various rubber components such as hoses and pumps. Though this can be easily replaced by visiting your local dealer. Sometimes extra tubing is included in a biodiesel expansion pack. This package is ideal if you plan to make batches and batches of biodiesel.

•    Also, this solvent characteristic will clean the injectors and the tank, as well as the fuel lines; the downside is that, blockage is inevitable. But this is not a reason to be worried. Just prepare yourself to a frequent filter change for the first couple tanks of biodiesel.

•    As for the gel point, biodiesel posts higher than that of its petroleum equivalent. This connotes that the former coagulates faster. But, this too, can be resolved by using an anti-gel additive.

•    The last issue lies on the recent introduction of biodiesel. This is fairly new and consumers may have a hard time locating biodiesel processors and kits. Well, a quick search in the World Wide Web is the solution for this one.

Whether you prefer it straight up or mixed (20% biodiesel to 80% petroleum diesel), so long as nature is unscathed, then it is all good. This alternative could be one of man’s greatest achievements. Though this time around, we need to take the time to become aware of its pluses and minuses, including the ideal method of generating, regulating, and utilizing this precious liquid we call biodiesel.