Biodiesel Fuel: The Clean Source Of Energy
Most of the people are wary of the impending energy crisis that we are about to face in case something drastic is not done. Clean sources of energy are another global preference considering that current energy sources have already done a lot of damage to the environment. Biodiesel fuel is one of the best options that we have at this point of time. It is both clean and is an almost non limited source of energy considering that the crops from which it is extracted can be regrown.
Biodiesel fuel is a non petroleum fuel option which contributes to the fact that it does not wreak havoc on the environment. The earliest iteration of biodiesel can be seen in the form of patent that was granted n 1937 to G. Chavanne. This patent dealt with the conversion of vegetable oil in such a manner that it could be converted into fuel. The fundamentals of biodiesel still revolve around the same concepts.
Biodiesel fuel is used both as a pure form as well as in blended form. There are certain factors of concern with biodiesel. If you have a vehicle that was made prior to 1992, it would not be suitable for this fuel. These vehicles have hoses and gaskets made of natural rubber. Biodiesel fuel can degrade these products. Newer vehicles come with parts made of FKM which are not affected by biodiesel in the same manner.
A number of countries are seeing increasing adoption of biodiesel as the fuel of choice. The fuel is easily available in United States, Canada and in most of the parts of Europe. It is also being adopted by transport companies in the form of a cleaner and more affordable alternative. While some people might think that the affordable part is an overkill, as the prices of petroleum based fuels increase, this is going to change very soon. In the European Union, biodiesel fuel is standardized as EN 14214. Each of the countries of the union have their own version of these standards and the same standards are also being used in a number of non EU member countries and even outside the Europe. In Canada and the United States biodiesel fuel is standardized according to ASTM D6751. Other than this there are DIN standards which come with different standardizations according to biodiesel procured from various sources. All in all biodiesel fuel is looking at a really attractive future. In the period ranging between 2002 and 2006, the overall production of biodiesel was rated with more than 40% jump every year. In 2006, the total biodiesel production was rated at anywhere between 5 to 6 million tonnes. Biodiesel fuel is looking at a really bright future.
|