Biodiesel fuels are getting a lot of buzz because they are a renewable, clean-burning diesel fuel replacement that could help reduce America’s dependence on foreign petroleum, create green jobs and be less destructive to the environment.
Biodiesel fuels can be created from several sources, which make them very attractive as a petroleum fuel replacement. So far agricultural oils, soybeans, recycled cooking oil and animal fats have been used to create biofuels that meet ASTM D6751 specifications for clean burning fuel.
Pros regarding biodiesel fuel include:
- Made from renewable sources so it’s cost effective and easy to use.
- Operates in conventional engines from light to heavy-duty.
- No special storage needed. Biodiesel can be stored in aluminum, fluorinated polyethylene, steel, fluorinated polypropylene and Teflon tanks.
- Biodiesel also has a higher flash point so it handles like diesel and is safe to transport.
- Does not promote global warming since the carbon emitted is taken back to the environment.
Cons are few:
- Wide scale production will require increased crops to meet demand.
- It will take time for biofuels to be readily accessible since there is a lack of biodiesel pumps at existing filling stations.
Overall, biodiesel fuels have a promising future as an alternative to “traditional” diesel or gasoline. Biofuels can yield substantial energy security and environmental friendliness for U.S. consumers.
Here at Carbis, we have engineers who design and manufacture skid-mounted systems for loading/unloading, blending, metering, or transferring ethanol and biodiesel fuels. These skid-mounted systems are designed to be compact, so they take up less floor space. Because they’re assembled and tested before we ship them, once your company receives the skid it will take far less time to install. Skids allow access to equipment and are low maintenance for less downtime and better throughput.
