Flame Arrester Evaluation for E-Diesel Fuel Tanks
6/1/2003
An evaluation of various flame arresters for use with E-Diesel fuel (15% ethanol, 85% diesel blend) was conducted on four diesel fuel tanks selected to represent typical fuel tank and fill-neck designs. Multiple flame arresters were tested on each fuel tank for a total of 13 test combinations. It was determined that none of the flame arresters would prevent ignition from propagating from the fill port into the fuel tank while still allowing fuel flow for the saddle tank. It may therefore be necessary to design a fill neck as an addition to saddle fuel tanks in order to install more effective flame arresters.
Authors: Weyandt, N.; Janssens, M.L.
Building a Bridge to the Ethanol Industry--Follow-Up Project Period of Performance: 2/22/01-12/31/02
4/30/2003
The first trial of the corn fiber pretreatment process has been completed. The data and operating experience for the pump, heat exchanger, coil, and centrifuge show the pretreatment of corn fiber in water is technically achievable and economically feasible. The goals of this trial include showing that the pretreatment process is scaleable to fit the existing process at Williams Bioenergy, that pilot-size equipment achieves the goals of pretreatment--at least 75% recovery of starch from the corn fiber, and testing the performance of pilot-scale equipment at or near operational conditions. These goals were met. Cellulose conversion was also significantly enhanced by the pretreatment process.
Authors: Ladisch, M.; N. Mosier, G. Welch, B. Dien
Impact of Biodiesel Fuels on Air Quality Task 2 Report: The Impact of Biodiesel Fuels on Ozone Concentrations
4/1/2003
This report evaluates the ozone air quality impacts from the use of biodiesel fuel in the South Coast (Los Angeles) Air Basin (SoCAB), lower Lake Michigan, Northeast Corridor, and other cities in the Eastern United States. The largest impacts on ambient ozone concentrations due to the use of biodiesel are expected to be due to changes in NOx emissions from diesel vehicles. Studies, such as the Ozone Transport Assessment Group (OTAG), have concluded that regional NOx controls are one of the most effective control strategies for reducing regional ozone concentrations. In the eastern U.S. However, in some cases, NOx controls result in increased ozone levels, particularly in the urban cores of large cities. The assessment of ozone impacts due to biodiesel fuel use must therefore include the effects of the fuel on regional ozone and ozone transport as well as the effects within urban areas. The ozone air quality modeling conducted as part of this study therefore takes into account both urban-scale and regional-scale ozone formation through the use of high-resolution urban-scale modeling domains of the cities under study as well as coarser-scale regional-scale modeling.
Authors: Morris, R.; Mansell, G.; Jia, Y.; Wilson, G.
Impact of Biodiesel Fuels on Air Quality Task 4 Report: Impacts of Biodiesel Fuel Use on PM
4/1/2003
Biodiesel fuels have been investigated for a number of reasons, such as an extender for petroleum-based fuels derived from a domestic renewable energy source. But lately the primary interest is the potential for a more environmentally benign fuel. The potential for exhaust emission reductions and reductions in emissions toxicity have the most interest. Several studies have shown that large reductions in hydrocarbon, particulate, and carbon monoxide emissions are expected from its use either as a neat fuel or as a blend with petroleum-derived fuels.
There are several areas in the United States that are currently in non-attainment for particulate matter of 10 pm or less (PM10). In addition, there is a new fine particulate matter (PM2.5) which may result in new areas being in non-attainment for PM. Biodiesel fuel use is estimated to reduce several precursors to PM (e.g., PM, SO2, and VOC) and increase others (NOx). Thus, the net affect of biodiesel fuel use on ambient PM levels is unclear based on analyzing changes in emissions alone, so it is assessed using air quality modeling.
Authors: Morris, R.E.; Jia, Y.
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report - March 3, 2003
3/3/2003
This is the ninth issue of the Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, a quarterly newsletter keeping you up to date on the price of alternative fuels in the U.S. and their relation to gasoline and diesel prices. This issue discusses prices that were gathered from Clean Cities coordinators and stakeholders during the weeks of February 3, February 10, and February 17 2003, with comparisons to the prices in the previous Price Report, which were collected in October, 2002.
Authors: Lott, M.
Innovative Methods for Corn Stover Collecting, Handling, Storing and Transporting
3/1/2003
Corn stover, the material remaining on the surface after the grain is collected, is the largest underutilized crop in the U.S. Currently, stover is field dried and baled, limiting transportation to a 50-mile radius. For corn stover feedstock to become a reality for large biorefineries, innovations are needed between the field and delivery to the the processor in three areas: collection, storage, and transportation.
Authors: Atchison, J.E.; Hettenhaus, J.R.
NOx Solutions for Biodiesel -- Final Report -- #6 in a series of 6
2/28/2003
This study has examined a number of approaches for Nox reduction from biodiesel. Blending FT diesel at very high percentages can produce a NOx neutral fuel. Lowering the base fuel aromatic content from 31.9% to 7.5% (nominally 10% aromatic fuel) was very successful at lowering NOx.
Authors: McCormick, R.L.; J.R. Alvarez, M.S. Graboski
Bioassay Analyses of Particulate Matter From a Diesel Bus Engine Using Various Biodiesel Feedstock Fuels
2/28/2003
Diesel exhaust is a complex mixture of compounds present in both the particle and vapor phases and includes specific classes of compounds such as the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, many of which are genotoxic. Many technologies have been employed to reduce diesel particulate emissions, including engine modification, emission control devices, and the use of alternative fuels such as biodiesel.
Authors: Kado, N.Y.; P.A. Kuzmicky
The Effect of Biodiesel Composition on Engine Emissions from a DDC Series 60 Diesel Engine
2/28/2003
Certificaation fuel runs exhibited a mean NOx emission level of 4.59 g/bhp-h (+/-.053) with no significant drift over the four month test program. PM emissions averaged 0.261 g/bhp-h (+/-0.019). A small downward drift in PM emissions was evident (11% over the course of the project). Thus, no correction for drift was applied to the NOx emissions data but a small correction wass applied to PM.
Authors: Graboski, M.S.; R.L. McCormick, T.L. Alleman
Ralphs Grocery EC-Diesel Truck Fleet: Final Results
1/1/2003
The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Heavy Vehicle Technologies sponsored a research project to collect and analyze data on the performance and operation costs of 15 of Ralph's Grocery's diesel trucks fueled by Emissions Control Diesel (ECD, also known as EC-Diesel) or a related fuel, ECD-1, in commercial service, compared with the performance of 5 diesel trucks fueled by California Air Resources Board (CARB) diesel fuel and operating on similar routes. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory managed this project. This evaluation was part of the larger EC-Diesel Technology Validation Program sponsored by ARCO (a division of BP) to evaluate ECD (an ultra-low-sulfur diesel [ULSD] fuel) and passive regenerative catalyzed diesel particulate filter (DPF) technology on urban diesel vehicles. DPFs are intended to replace the original equipment muffler system and remove harmful emissions from the truck exhaust stream. ECD is intended to provide improved emission control and performance characteristics.
Authors: Chandler, K.; Vertin, K.; Alleman, T.; Clark, N.