Alternative Fuels - Let's talk about Biodiesel

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 12:58 pm

Biodiesel is getting more press lately. Could this be a way to lessen our dependence on OPEC?

What is biodiesel?

Biodiesel is the name of a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. It can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines with little or no modifications. Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.

How is biodiesel made?

Biodiesel is made through a chemical process called transesterification whereby the glycerin is separated from the fat or vegetable oil. The process leaves behind two products -- methyl esters (the chemical name for biodiesel) and glycerin (a valuable byproduct usually sold to be used in soaps and other products).

http://www.biodiesel.org/

Post by **kensloft** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 6:55 pm

Tombstone wrote: Biodiesel is getting more press lately. Could this be a way to lessen our dependence on OPEC?

What is biodiesel?

Biodiesel is the name of a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. It can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines with little or no modifications. Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.

How is biodiesel made?

Biodiesel is made through a chemical process called transesterification whereby the glycerin is separated from the fat or vegetable oil. The process leaves behind two products -- methyl esters (the chemical name for biodiesel) and glycerin (a valuable byproduct usually sold to be used in soaps and other products).

http://www.biodiesel.org/

http://www.smart.com/-snm-0135145948-11 ... ault-Start

Don't know if the link will work because it may get truncated

Will this fuel be able to be used in the Smart Car.

Go to the address bar and type in "smart car".

When you get there you will see a really neat way to cut your gas consumption down with this new diessel powered car. Awesome.

koan · Post by **koan** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 7:51 pm

What would be really great is if they could come up with a converter so all the existing cars could switch fuel type.

Post by **kensloft** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 8:17 pm

koan wrote: What would be really great is if they could come up with a converter so all the existing cars could switch fuel type.
I think I saw something like that in an episode of Back To The Future. They used a banana peel. You would have to have a vehicle with three engines at this point.

koan · Post by **koan** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 8:46 pm

We could just use magnets like the spaceships do. It's all done with magnets, you know.

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 8:49 pm

Is it expensive to mass produce?

koan · Post by **koan** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:27 pm

Lon wrote: Is it expensive to mass produce?

Magnets? Not really.

Post by **kensloft** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 10:29 pm

koan wrote: Magnets? Not really.
I've thought that before because it is probably the only energy that you would be able to follow the trail or signature of a certain magnetic wave.

koan · Post by **koan** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 11:08 pm

kensloft wrote: I've thought that before because it is probably the only energy that you would be able to follow the trail or signature of a certain magnetic wave.

Or we'd all crash into Mr T.

Post by **kensloft** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 11:37 pm

koan wrote: Or we'd all crash into Mr T.
Mr. T as in terra?

koan · Post by **koan** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 11:47 pm

kensloft wrote: Mr. T as in terra?
As in The A Team and Rocky III. OK NOW WE'RE REALLY OFF TOPIC. Sorry, Tombstone.

Post by **kensloft** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 12:09 am

koan wrote: As in The A Team and Rocky III. OK NOW WE'RE REALLY OFF TOPIC. Sorry, Tombstone.

Diessel fuel is tha way of the future becaue of this car. It'll be good to get the other additives into the fuel.

I heard that people that use these new fuels have said that it smelled like popcorn or french fries depending on the type of fuel that was added into the mix.

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 10:28 am

Here are some additional stories and sites found - one is in reference to Kensloft post:

Biodiesel Boosters Plan Co-Ops

Biodiesel Boom Well-Timed

Automakers Give Biodiesel a Boost

Diesels, Hybrids Fated to Wed

Energy Blog

Backroom Tussling Over Biodiesel

Piedmont Biofuels

Veggie Avenger

Post by **kensloft** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 11:21 am

More information than most people have ever seen on the subject in one place. Good post. Maybe we should open up a car dealership?

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 12:48 pm

kensloft wrote: More information than most people have ever seen on the subject in one place. Good post. Maybe we should open up a car dealership?

I'd rather produce fuel! :p

Anastrophe pointed out a counter-argument site:

http://denbeste.nu/cd_log_entries/2002/ ... rces.shtml

My counter-counter argument is that this is why there are *local co-ops. Biodiesel will not run the world's energy needs. It allows a local alternative for people who need fuel to run their farms and for the truckers to get their goods to market.

Just like in early America, the farm co-op members ate while the rugged loners starved.

Post by **kensloft** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 4:57 pm

Tombstone wrote: I'd rather produce fuel! :p

Anastrophe pointed out a counter-argument site:

http://denbeste.nu/cd_log_entries/2002/ ... rces.shtml

My counter-counter argument is that this is why there are *local co-ops. Biodiesel will not run the world's energy needs. It allows a local alternative for people who need fuel to run their farms and for the truckers to get their goods to market.

Just like in early America, the farm co-op members ate while the rugged loners starved.
First off, Biodiessel should tell you about where the fuel is on the scale produced.

It is when all the little people get together that you find that you get big results. You have to start somewhere. Why not at the bottom. The part of the machine that is hidden or obscured. The backbone of society. The farmers.

I would rather have the farmers be able to keep on farming when the crunch hits(assuming there's a hit). It woud make life a lot easier for those that are around. Uss Clueless will be glad you did.