An Introduction to Biofuels

1
An Introduction to Biofuels

• Green Grease Monkey
• Patrick Keaney, co-founder

2
About Us
Green Grease Monkey is a Massachusetts-based
collective that works to help people understand
and use biofuels to preserve our environment,
save money, recycle waste, and end dependence on
foreign oil.
3
Diesel Visionary Inventor

• The use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may
  seem insignificant today. But such oils may
  become in the course of time as important as the
  petroleum and coal tar products of the present
  time.

4
Diesel Visionary Inventor, contd.
The diesel engine can be fed with vegetable
oils and would help considerably in the
development of agriculture of the countries which
use it.
5
Biodiesel and SVO/WVO

• Biodiesel is vegetable oil that has been
  chemically processed and can run in most diesel
  engines without additional modifications.
• Diesel engines can also be modified so that they
  can run on straight vegetable oil (SVO) and waste
  vegetable oil (WVO).

6
What is Biodiesel?

• Biodiesel is a fuel made from 80-90 vegetable
  oil, 10-20 alcohol, and 0.35-1.5 catalyst. It
  is a stable fuel, performs reliably in all diesel
  engines, cuts emissions, is mixable with
  petroleum diesel fuel, is easy to make, safe to
  handle, and will work with all diesel fuel
  storage and pumping systems. No engine
  modifications are needed to use biodiesel in a
  Diesel engine. Biodiesel can be poured straight
  into the fuel tank of any Diesel vehicle.
• - From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank, Joshua
  Tickell

7
Setting Up Your Own Processor
An appleseed-type processor, made from a used
electric hot water heater, is a very common way
to make homebrew biodiesel. In addition to the
water heater, you need a separate container for
mixing chemicals, and a pump to help the reaction
occur. Simple black iron pipes and brass ball
valves complete the system.
8
The Appleseed Processor
9
The Appleseed Processor, contd.
10
The Appleseed Processor, contd.
11
The Basics of Conversion
Any diesel engine can run on vegetable oil. The
most common system is a dual tank system. The
waste heat generated by the vehicles engine
warms the vegetable oil, which runs through a
second filter before entering the fuel injection
pump. When heated to 70 degrees Celsius,
vegetable oil burns identically to petroleum
diesel.
12
Modifying the Fuel System
First, you add a secondary tank for the vegetable
oil. You also add another fuel filter and fuel
lines, and a switch that allows you to select
which fuel you want going to your engine.
13
Modifying the Coolant System
The engine coolant carries the heat to the tank
in a parallel loop of radiator hoses, one of
which contains the veggie oil fuel line, keeping
it extra hot as it goes from the tank to the
engine.
14
Modifying the Electrical System
Electric solenoid valves allow you to switch
fuels. They run off the 12-volt electrical
system in the car, and are controlled by rocker
switches that are installed on the dash.
15
Collecting and Filtering the Oil
All restaurants that fry food have to dispose of
the waste oil. After you pick it up from the
restaurant, you filter it through a very fine (10
micron) bag filter, and then its ready to go in
your second tank.
16
Other Applications
No. 2 heating oil, or the oil thats used to heat
homes, is the same as diesel. Many people are
now using biodiesel and veggie oil to heat
buildings, including this organic greenhouse in
Maine.
17
Benefits of Biofuels

• Sustainable
• Environmentally-friendly
• Energy Independence
• Improves Local Economy

18
Biofuels are Sustainable

• Solar energy is converted to chemical energy
  (hydrocarbons)
• Carbon neutral plants capture all CO2 emitted
  from renewable fuel

FOR MORE INFO...
The U.S. government website for information on
biodiesel is www.biodiesel.org.
19
Biofuels are Cleaner

• Replaces sulfur, adding lubricity
• Much lower emissions, resulting in decrease of
  greenhouse gases

20
Promotes Energy Independence

• By 2010, DOE estimates that over 60 of U.S. oil
  will be imported
• The Middle Easts share of oil production will be
  40, rising to 50 by 2025

FOR MORE INFO...
Check out www.oilendgame.com for excellent,
up-to-date research on pre-empting another energy
crisis
21
Good for the Economy

• Lessen the trade deficit
• Create local jobs in industry and agriculture

22

• THE END OR BEGINNING?