/// Guest post by contributor Jon Scharingson, Renewable Energy Group
A drop in the bucket is a ripple of change. A short term change leads to long term transformation. Transforming the alternative fuel industry a drop at a time is biodiesel.
The clean burning, low emission fuel source is renowned for the economic, environmental and domestic production advantages, but biodiesel also displays value in the engine performance realm. When looking at biodiesel benefits, experts have seen a unique blend of high cetane and high lubricity levels yet low sulfur content.
“Cetane measures the fuel’s ability to auto-ignite. Since diesel engines don’t have spark plugs, we use compression for igniting the fuel. So the higher the cetane content, the better the auto-ignition properties, or the better the starting power you are going to have,” says Rachel Burton with Mark IV Consulting.
With the numerous moving internal parts of an engine working at a high temperature, lubricity is important for maintaining functionality. From the fuel pump to the fuel injector, biodiesel can be used to help lubricate the engine components. According to Burton, as little as two percent biodiesel can provide 66 percent more lubricity when added to petroleum diesel fuel.
However, perhaps the most important component, which combines performance and emission advantages, is the low sulfur content.
“In the last few years we have reduced the amount of sulfur from 500 parts per million down to 15 in petroleum diesel fuel; but, sulfur has lubricating properties so when you remove it from diesel, you lose lubrication. When you add biodiesel, even at just one or two percent, you bring back that lubricity, but not the sulfur,” Burton says.
While those few drops, just a few percentage points in a blend, can make a difference, customers are focused on maximizing the benefits of biodiesel and blending up to B20. According to Burton, B20 is the current standard for combining engine performance, emission reductions and competitive pricing.
/// Read more guest posts on biodiesel posts here.
{Guest Post} Guest post provided by NATSO Chairman's Circle member Jon Scharingson, Renewable Energy Group. Renewable Energy Group® is a leading North American biodiesel producer with a nationwide distribution and logistics system. With more than 210 million gallons of owned/operated annual production capacity at biorefineries across the country, REG is a proven biodiesel partner in the distillate marketplace. Learn more about Renewable Energy Group.
The opinions and advice given by guest post contributors are not necessarily those of NATSO Inc. The posts should not be considered legal advice. Qualified professionals should be sought regarding advice and questions specific to your circumstances.
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