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The Benefits Of A Biodiesel Car

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Biodiesel is something that is starting to get a lot of attention. With high gas prices it is no surprise that alternative fuels are being seen as the next step in fueling our vehicles. Biodiesel is considered the best choice in alternative fuel because it burns clean, it is safe and it is cheap.

Biodiesel is made from vegetable oil. Using a renewable resource to get biodiesel means that with increased use the dependency on foreign oil will greatly diminish. Additionally, the profits for this country’s farmers will increase. The use of biodiesel essentially means a gain for the US economy. Additionally, biodiesel is safer for the environment as it does not produce harmful emissions or byproducts.

Biodiesel is unlike other alternative fuels in that it can be used in a regular diesel engine without the need for modifications. However, manufacturer warranties can become void when you use biodiesel. This is because manufactuers do not completely understand how prolonged use will effect the engine. So, if you use biodiesel in a vehicle that is not specifically made for biodiesel then you could risk voiding the warrenty.

A biodiesel car runs and works just like any other vehicle. It is just approved for use with biodiesel fuels. A biodiesel car is not a necessity to be able to use biodiesel fuel, but should a person be concerned about their warranty then a biodiesel car may be the best choice.

To take a look at a specific biodiesel car, there is the Bio-Beetle. This car was created because biodiesel fuel is so environmentally friendly. They are available as rental cars in both Florida and California. The Bio-Beetle uses the purest form of biodiesel. Some biodiesel sold as service stations only contains a fraction of biodiesel mixed with regular diesel. The Bio-Beetle is made to run on 100% biodiesel, not the blends.

There are many companies who are seeing the benefits of using biodiesel and who have started using biodiesel cars. In places where air pollution is a big concern, biodiesel cars are a great idea. Not only will using a biodiesel car keep pollution levels down, but it will also save money. Many large companies are saving hundreds of thousands of dollars every year using biodiesel cars.

Any car can be a biodiesel car, as mentioned. The main thing is the use of biodiesel fuel instead of regular fuel. Using biodiesel fuel is a smart choice. That is because biodiesel does not pollute the environment and costs far less then traditional fuel. In fact, biodiesel costs around 70 cents per gallon, which, as you know, is a far cry from the price of a gallon of traditional gas.

Any car can be a biodiesel car. The main thing is the use of biodiesel fuel instead of regular fuel. Using biodiesel fuel is a smart choice. That is because biodiesel does not pollute the environment and costs far less then traditional fuel. In fact, biodiesel costs around 70 cents per gallon, which, as you know, is a far cry from the price of a gallon of traditional gas.

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What is Biomass Energy?

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In short, biomass energy is the process of incinerating organic waste, such as dead trees, branches, yard clippings, crops, wood chips or sawdust, to create energy. Biomass is converted into energy through a relatively simple process, especially when compared to other manners used to obtain energy. First, the organic waste is collected at biomass power plants. The organic waste may have come from factories, farms or municipalities that participate in collecting homeowners’ yard waste. The waste is then burned at the biomass power plant in a furnace. The heat from the incineration boils water in an adjacent boiler and the steam then turns turbines and powers generators creating energy.

Many people are turning to biomass energy because biomass appears to be a more renewable, green energy source. First, there is a lot of organic waste out there that usually ends up in landfills.

For example, California generates more than sixty-million tons of organic waste annually, and five-million tons of that is used to generate electricity! Biomass energy provides a way to reduce landfill sizes and landfill emissions. The second reason is that biomass energy is considered a carbon-neutral source of energy. Before organic waste becomes waste, it is comprised of living plants. These plants consume and store carbon dioxide during their life cycle. When incinerated, the organic waste releases the same amount of carbon dioxide that it consumed during its life cycle. For example, one cornhusk soaks up the same amount of energy during its lifecycle that it releases once incinerated. Then, as more plants are replanted to replace the incinerated ones, it will close the carbon dioxide cycle.

Biomass energy, which includes all forms of organic waste (including animal waste), currently supplies about fifteen times more energy to Americans than both wind and solar power. However, biomass energy accounts for just over 1% of the total electricity used in the United States.

Advocates of biomass energy state that we will see numerous environmental benefits—improved air quality, reduced erosion and the reduction of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. Opponents of biomass energy claim that it is not a carbon-neutral source of energy, since the biomass power plants consume a substantial amount of energy that is not included in the typical equation that makes biomass neutral. In theory, one cornhusk will consume the same amount of carbon dioxide in its life cycle that it will emit once incinerated, however, there are other costs in the process, such as transporting biomass and powering the power plant. So, in the end, the entire process of converting organic waste to energy may not be carbon-neutral.

Biomass energy is an interesting topic because we are still debating whether or not it is better than the use of fossil fuels. There are many benefits and there are also many drawbacks. EnviroCitizen.org suggests that you do your own research and find out what your position on biomass energy is.

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Biofuels Pros And Cons

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Biofuels Pros And Cons

Biofuels have become talk of the town these days. These are obtained from biomass and utilize many renewable energy sources. These fuels also use plant matter as the raw material. Solid biomass is known to be the most common types of bio-fuels. The consistent rise in the price of fossil fuel has affected the world economy. The introduction of biofuels has come as a rescue to this problem. In fact, these have acted as a complete replacement for most of our energy requirements. However, prior to completely trusting this renewable energy source, it is important to know about the pros and cons of using biofuels. Stated below are some of the significant biofuels pros and cons.

Biofuels Pros and Cons:

The most obvious pros of using biofuel is the independence it allows from oil that can be bought from outside the United States. The best part is that the emissions coming from direct usage in automobiles is far lesser as compared to those from conventional fuels such as gasoline.

Other benefits:

Biofuels are extracted from the plant oils or animals. This facilitates recycling. This in turn, turns the trash into something resourceful.
Biofuels are cost-effective. In fact, these are considered to be the only fuel available at affordable price.
The best thing about biofuel is that they are safer and can be easily transported from one place to another sans posing any potential risk on the health of consumers.
When using biofuel, there is no peculiar gasoline stench. It is also sulfur-free. Additionally, it aids in eliminating acid rain.
Bio fuel can be used by all vehicle engine types.

Cons of using biofuels:

The traditional petroleum products produce more energy than biofuel. This may result in power loss in engines.
It is true that biofuel can function with most engines but there are just a few specifically designed for this type of fuel.

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Bio Fuels – Are They Good?

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Bio Fuels – Are They Good?

Article by Anil Kumar Raju A

As the term suggests,bio-fuels are fuels that are formed when biological matter decomposes. The bio-fuels are mostly derived from plants. Bio-fuels exist in all the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas.

Difference between bio-fuels and fossil fuels
Bio-fuels are different from fossil fuels in the following ways:
Fossil fuels take a million years to build whereas bio-fuels can be made extremely fast, in a matter of days.
Fossil fuels generate huge amounts of pollution. Bio-fuels are comparatively safer.
Bio-fuels are renewable sources of energy unlike fossil fuels.

Different Types of bio-fuels:
Bio-fuels have been categorized into four types: first generation, second generation, third generation, and fourth generation.

The first generation bio-fuels are derived from vegetable fats, starch, and sugar, which are in turn derived from food-crops. The first generation fuels are also derived from animal fats. Biogas, bio-diesel, and vegetable oil are some examples of this type of bio-fuels.

The second generation of bio-fuels is mainly derived from waste biomass, thus making it a more balanced option compared to the first-generation bio-fuels. Different kinds of alcohols and diesel generated from wood fall into the category of second generation bio-fuels.

The third generation comprises of bio-fuels derived from algae. Algae are farmed on large scales for creating these bio-fuels. The algae fuels are extremely environment-friendly as they can easily decompose into the soil without harming it.

The bio-fuels in the fourth generation are derived by a method in which micro-organisms are raised to work with carbon dioxide to generate fuel.

Advantages of bio-fuels:
Bio-fuels prove advantageous in the following ways:
Bio-fuels lessen the burden on gradually-vanishing fossil fuels.
Bio-fuels are environment-friendly. They help reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
Bio-fuels, especially, bio-diesel prove to be very cost-effective for consumers.

Disadvantages of bio-fuels:
Bio-fuels are not bereft of criticism. Though beneficial for the environment, bio-fuels have its disadvantages, paradoxically in the environmental purview. Bio-fuels have received criticism for many reasons, a couple of which are stated below:

Economists have long debated on the usefulness of first generation bio-fuels when compared to the lack of food they cause. Generating fuel from food crops makes food crops unworthy of human consumption. Some people believe that being a higher priority than fuel, food should not be farmed for making fuels but for human consumption.
Making bio-fuels require acres of farming land, thus encroaching upon the natural habitat of plants and animals.

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Biodiesel as an Alternative Fuel

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Biodiesel as an Alternative Fuel

Article by Joseph Then

Biodiesel fuel is a fuel made from the oil of certain oilseed crops such as soybean, canola, palm kernel, coconut, sunflower, safflower, corn and a hundreds of other oil producing crops. The oil is extracted by the use of a press. The oil is then mixed in specific proportions with other agents which causes a chemical reaction. The results of this reaction are two products, biodiesel and soap.

After a final filtration, the biodiesel is ready for use. After curing, the glycerin soap which is produced as a by product can be used as is, or can have scented oils added before use.

Biodiesel fuel is not a new development; however it has gotten quite a lot of publicity lately. This is largely due to the rising cost of crude oil which puts a strain on the consumer’s wallet at the gas pump. Biodiesel fuel is one alternative to relying on fossil fuels to operate our vehicles.

In 1895 Dr. Rudolph Diesel introduced the first diesel engine intended to run on vegetable oil. In 1900 he presented his engine at the World Exhibition in Paris. This diesel engine used peanut oil as fuel.

In 1912 Dr. Diesel predicted that in the future the use of vegetable oils as a fuel may be as important as the use of petroleum and coal was in his day. With the volatile nature of oil producing countries, and the ever surging cost of crude oil, interest in vegetable oils as fuel has been rekindled, so it seems Dr Diesel may have had a glimpse into the world of today.

Biodiesel fuel has several advantages over fossil fuel. The most celebrated advantage is that biodiesel fuel is less costly to make than gasoline. As an added bonus, biodiesel is environmentally friendly fuel. The use of biodiesel in an unmodified diesel engine will substantially reduce the emissions of harmful unburned hydrocarbons, sulfates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide.

Biodiesel fuel works in almost any diesel engine. Just some of the equipment where these engines can be found is cars, trucks, tractors, planes, trains, boats, buses and almost all agricultural equipment. As you can see this adds up to a lot of potential use for biodiesel, and just as many chances to reduce the harmful emissions created from the use of fossil fuels.

So what makes biodiesel fuel such a promising fossil fuel alternative? Here are a few of the surprising facts pertaining to biodiesel.

Biodiesel fuel can be made from renewable resources such as vegetable oils and animal fats.

Biodiesel fuel reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to 80%.

Biodiesel reduces the formation of acid rain because it produces no sulfur dioxide, which is the key element in creating acid rain.

Biodiesel fuel smells better at the tank, so filling up is a more pleasant task than with regular diesel. Biodiesel also smells better on the road, with the exhaust sometimes being described as smelling like French fries or doughnuts.

Biodiesel burns much cleaner, so the black smelly smoke one usually sees puffing from vehicles which use diesel engines can be eliminated.

An added advantage over regular fuel is that biodiesel fuel takes considerably less time to degrade in the event of a spill, usually about twenty eight days, which is about four times faster than gasoline or regular diesel fuel.

The extra lubrication provided by biodiesel fuel helps improve the longevity of your engine, as well as boosting engine performance, also helping eliminate engine knocks and noise.

Biodiesel fuel can be stored in any type of tank already approved for fuel storage, giving more savings to both businesses and consumers.

Biodiesel has a much higher flash point at 300 degrees to be exact, than regular diesel, at 150 degrees.

Biodiesel can be mixed with regular diesel fuel to make blends, such as B5 or B20.

Most diesel engines can use biodiesel without having to be modified in any way.

With all the advantages biodiesel fuel has over conventional diesel, it makes a smart alternative which not only makes a difference in our wallets, but also to the Earth itself.

 

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