Biodiesel in the Territory

Well everything is relative and there is always more than one way to look at it.

From what I understand the biodiesel is imported into SA (Suggesting it is made in volume somewhere else).

So they have to transport sub-optimal volumes probably and sell a niche product in a market that is not really mature.

I too am trying to develop a new market - Adventure Photography Tours - I want a price point that gives me sufficient demand to build a business and yet sufficient profit to recoup the money invested in opening up the new market - planning, advertising, plant and equipment etc.

Thankfully SAFF are doing it here.

Ciao for now
Andrew.

Cheaper by 2-4 cpl

Is that all, I would have thought that it would be a lot cheaper.

Andrew, a biodiesel facility, Renewable Fuels at Elder Rd just north of Jetty Rd Largs (Adelaide) has just started up.

Thanks Rojac - I'll follow that up when I get back from Kakadu in the wet.

Thanks Tim,

I've joined that forum too!

Ciao for now
Andrew in forum joining mode.

Hello Tim,
Are you buying fresh oil or using recycled?
Troy

Troy,

Fresh - that's why I said Supermarket Vege Oil, instead of WVO or SVO. Not all that keen to get into the waste oil side of things - tho might. One step at a time.

I found a bit of oil on special for $1 litre, but have paid $1.50l for some larger 20l drums so I can use the drums for storage. I've found a farmer who will supply Canola for $1 litre, so might take a trip that way soon and come back with a quantity. First thing is to join a renewable fuels group and make sure I'm doing the right thing by my 12HT.

Filling from 1 litre bottles is a bit tedious, but I'm only using a blend, so generally only add 40l of oil - 160l fuel tank capacity.

Tim

Hi Tim,
The reason I was asking is that a mate and myself have been filtering used canola oil and making our own blend of biodeisel. I also have been questionable about the long term effects on the fuel pump and engine overall.
We have been adding 40 - 50l of deisel and 20l pulp and a fuel additive (fuel Dr), with the oil to make up a 200l drum. The reason for the mix is the hilux has a single 65l tank.
So far so good - initially shock treated the tank withthe fuel Dr and had to change the fuel filter not long after that and then did another short change and the filter was moderately obstructed. But after that its been fine.
I have been wanting to price 'new' canola oil and see if there is any difference between the two.

Thanks
Troy

Troy,

That's some mix!

I've found Canola oil is generally much more expensive than the $1 litre I bought. It was a super special on some dumped EU product - soybean/vegetable oil. Even it's normal price of $1.50 litre in 2 litre bottles or 4l tins is much cheaper than price of other options in the supermarket. Just a matter of looking around and being prepared to buy up a quantity when you see it at the right price.

I've been interested in getting a local source of new oil, not dumped imported stuff, and have found a farmer that crushes, filters and degums his own and will sell it for $1 litre. The farm is around 250km from me, so there are other costs involved in getting it.

I'd understood adding ULP, or PULP, was okay to diesel in small quantities only and really only to stop it gelling - Not really a problem in an Oz summer or NT anytime. There's no reason to add PULP to increase the octane/cetane/bangability rating of the mix, you will not notice the difference in power even using SVO - the only issues with SVO, new or used and filtered, are combustion problems - possibly leaving unburnt residue in the combustion chambers that will coke up injectors and rings. This is a viscosity issue, not an energy rating issue.

Preheating the oil with a heat exchange device just prior to the pump is one way around this as it helps to reduce the viscosity and increase the burn. There are many many resources on the net, once you get to right place to start, that gives proper explanation of this. Preheating prior to the filter can overheat the filter paper and disintegrate it - something to watch for in the NT if you add a heater.

I'm only a newbie with this - the sydney bio site is a good place to start and there are links there to all the other reputable sites.

Tim

you can make biodiesel from all sorts of stocks.
If people are making their own - which is apparently quite common - I could understand how they had lots of nasties in the stuff.

the usual problem is that natural rubbers break down in the presence of bioD and most older equipment has plenty of that.

The bioD dissolves out the build up of many years of impurities which generally fill up the fuel filter quickly, but in some engines will cause a rapid build up at other points.

Commercial BioD is much cleaner than normal diesel - I picked up a load from Dalby (one of the biggest truck stops in Qld) a few weeks ago and got more than 1 litre of water for my troubles.

Cost of cleaning it out was $220!

I've never had that problem with the BioD from SAFF Fuels in Adelaide.

Ciao for now
Andrew who thinks injector pump failure could come from a range of causes.

I have been told by pump repair specialists that that most rotary pumps require the fuel to lubricate, thats why its not good to run out of fuel either. wonder if bio product is up to scratch for lubrication requirements?

Cheers Axle

BioD is a much better lubricant ... although it is a better solvent too, so if you have a big build up of sludge elsewhere it can make it through the filter etc.

Cheers
Andrew.