# Presentation: 440120

## Implementation of Biodiesel at PPPL

- Keith Rule
- Project Engineer
- Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

- 2008 Federal Environmental Symposium
- National Institute of Health
- Increasing Alternative Fuel Use Through Strategic Partnerships

## Federal Directive 

- Executive Order 13423
**“****Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management**”
- (g)...  (ii) increases the total fuel consumption that is non-petroleum-based by 10 percent annually,

## The Original Diesel Fuel

- The concept of using vegetal oil as an engine fuel dates back to 1895 when **Rudolf Diesel** (1858-1913) developed the first engine to run on peanut oil, as he demonstrated at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900.
- "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"
***Rudolph Diesel, 1912***
- After R. Diesel death the petroleum industry was rapidly developing  and produced a cheap by-product "diesel fuel" powering a modified "diesel-engine". Thus, clean vegetable oil was forgotten as a renewable source of power.

## What is Biodiesel?

- Biodiesel is defined as mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats which conform to ASTM D6751 specifications for use in diesel engines. Biodiesel refers to the pure fuel before blending with diesel fuel.
- Alternative fuel and/or additive for diesel fuels to lower particulate matter, toxic matter and carbon dioxide emissions from:
- On and off road vehicles
- Stationary and mobile power generators
- Commercial and residential heating units that burn diesel fuel.
- Princeton University – B-100 in GE Gas turbine October 2007
- Biodiesel can be used in any diesel engine as B-20 blend.
- _Even a blend of 20% bio- and 80% petroleum diesel will significantly reduce carcinogenic emissions and gases.__ _

## No Brainer

- _No engine modifications are required__._ Maintains the payload capacity and range of petro-diesel.
- _Vehicle hoses need to be checked after the first 6 months of operation on biodiesel._  Blends of 20% or less tend to have little to no effect on non-compatible hoses.
- Biodiesel cuts down on targeted emissions (B-20).
-  _particulate by 31 percent_
- _carbon monoxide by 21 percent_
- _total hydrocarbons by 47 percent_
- _also reduces sulfur emissions and aromatics. _
- Recognized as an alternative fuel by all government agencies (20%+)

## Recommended Implementation

- Identify which equipment could begin using biodiesel.
- Develop a pilot project for biodiesel blend, like B20, in a single demonstration project.
- Use the specs from DESC and make sure that any biodiesel you purchase is in compliance with the _ASTM standard for B100._
- Like petroleum diesel, biodiesel should _generally not be stored for more than six months.  _This is a myth
- Use biodiesel fuel in your equipment like you normally use petroleum diesel.
- Keep extra _fuel filters on hand_
- _rubber parts (i.e. fuel hoses and seals) may need to be replaced with synthetic equivalents that are resistant to oxygenated fuels, methanol and ethanol (i.e. fluroelastomer). _
- Reach out to EPA, USDA, DOE, DESC, etc.  Take advantage of the outstanding information and expertise already out there.

## Experiences of Others

- DOD

- National Park Service

- US Postal Service

- NASA

## Cold Weather Issues

- Biodiesel can gel in very cold temperatures, just as petroleum diesel does.
- Blends of B20 and higher can be treated with standard flow-improvers
- Cold flow improvers are already in most diesel during the winter.
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory states:
-  “B100 found in the United States cannot be effectively managed with current cold flow additives like some petrodiesel or European rapeseed oil based biodiesel”.

## Beyond Cold Flow Additives 

- In general, the same procedures and products that keep diesel from gelling can be applied to biodiesel too.
- An engine block heater to keep the engine warm at night. This helps with starting on cold mornings.
- A fuel tank heater, which circulates coolant through a pipe in the fuel tank.
- An electric element fuel line heater, which heats the fuel at one point.
- A coolant-operated fuel heater, which uses hot coolant and a heat exchanger to heat a section of the fuel line.
- An electric fuel line heater. This is like an electric blanket for the fuel line, which extends from the fuel tank to the fuel filter.

## Degradation of Rubber

- Pure biodiesel (B100) can degrade natural rubber hoses and gaskets.
- not an issue with B20.
- Fortunately, the recent switch to low-sulfur diesel fuel has caused most Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to switch to components that are also suitable for use with biodiesel.
- Additional information can be found in NREL’s 2004 Biodiesel Handling and Use Handbook
_**Solution:**_ For blends over B20, contact the OEM to determine if seals, hoses, and gaskets are compatible with the biodiesel blend being considered.

## Pilot Program at PPPL

_**Purchase B-20 from local vendor – Taylor Fuels**_
- Stored and dispensed from 55 gallon drums.
- Drums stored in HazStore – NFPA rated
- Dispensed using battery powered pump

## Initial Implementation 

- 55 gallon drums
- Partnered with JD
- Maintenance
- Filters
- Oil change
- Monitor hoses/seals
- Cold weather blend
- Training & Buy-in
- Monitor use - log books

## Partnering with John Deere

- First ever us of B-20 in JD Gators
- Purchased 5 Gators to replace old utility vehicles.  Expand capabilities of vehicles
- Run on B-20
- Jerome Berreth – Consumer Products –Head of Component Develepment – Engines
- Yan Mar Diesel – Engine Manufacturer
- Developed more stringent maintenance – 50%
- Oil changes
- Filter – oil and fuel changes
- Injector cleaning

## Expanded implementation

## Alternative Fuels - Our Status

- Using B-20
- 3  P/U trucks – Ford and Chevy
- 2  IH Stake Body trucks
- 9  John Deere Gators
- 1  John Deere Backhoe
- 1  John Deere Skid Loader
- 1  Hyster 15 ton forklift
- Petro Diesel
- 2  Fire trucks
- 2  Mobile Cranes
- 1  Ambulance
- 1  Tractor

- Natural Gas
- 3 P/U trucks
- E-85
- 2  Sedans
- 2  Minivans
- 5  P/U trucks
- 1  SUV
- Gasoline
- 5 Panel trucks
- 3  P/U trucks
- 1  Van
- Expand use
- Diesel generators
- Boilers

## Resources

- National Park Service – spreadsheet of biodiesel fleet
- National Biodiesel Board – www.biodiesel.org
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- http://www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels/npbf/pdfs/40555.pdf

## Progress in the U.S.

- Biodiesel reduces particulate emissions, sulfur, and CO2 by as much as 80%.
- Most Biodiesel fuels are produced from soybeans that are grown by U.S. farmers.
- 580 million gallons was produced in the U.S in 2006.  An additional 1.4 Billion is expected by summer of 2008.

## A Better Solution

- The U.S. Department of Defense has selected two companies, Diversified Energy and Velocys, to design a mobile biofuel manufacturing plant that would process organic waste from military installations. The plans are to use pyrolysis to create syngas to be used as biofuel for military vehicles and planes. The specifications also require these mobile plants to be able to produce the equivalent of 500 oil barrels per day.