Biodiesel: or Your fries give me gas

Who are we?Jill ParleeHandel Callender

Objectives of this workshopWhat is biodieselThe components of biodiesel productionWhat equipment is requiredFitting it all togetherOperating the businessHow it is done in BarbadosDiscover the feasibility of a business in DominicaSome of the social, economic and environmental benefits

What is Biodiesel?Biodiesel is fuel from vegetable oilThe diesel engine was invented in 1895, and ran on peanut oil for 10 yearsBiodiesel can be made from either new oil or used (waste cooking oil)

Sources of feedstockRestaurantsHotelsSnackettesSchool cafeteriasCruiseships

You can also grow your own fuel.Dominica has a range of oil crops, coconut being the most popularCoconut yields 2,260 kg oil/hectareJatropha yields 1,590 kg oil/hectareCastor bean yields 1188 kg oil/hectare

Raw materials neededVegetable oil (feedstock)MethanolPotassium Hydroxide or Sodium Hydroxide

Safety precautions:Methanol is a highly toxic and flammable alcohol. Gloves, masks, long sleeved work clothes and a well ventilated area should be all accessible when working with itSodium Hydroxide is highly alkaline and will produce severe burns when in contact with skin

The chemistry of biodieselVegetable oil + Methanol + Potassium Hydroxide = Methylester (biodiesel)

TRIGLYCERIDE MOLECULE (VEGE OIL)

Whats the equipment you need? (piecing it together)

RequirementDescriptionFeedstock storageTo hold all vegetable oil collected or producedBiodiesel reactorFor mixing oil and chemicalsByproduct storageTo hold glycerin byproductWater storageRain or river waterBiodiesel wash systemCleaning the crude biodiesel before placing in vehiclesWaste water treatment and storageCleaning up the water used to wash biodieselBiodiesel storageDistributionPumps or fuel containers to deliver fuel to vehicle tankA small room for a labFuel quality testing and chemical prep

Stage 1: Feedstock storage and pretreatmentYou may need:55 gallon metal drums1000 litre containersWater tanksLarge metal storage tanks

Some basic requirements for feedstock storage:Ideally it should have a cone shaped bottomIt should be able to take some heat (up to70 Celsius)It should have fittings to easily connect plumbingIt should be easily and safely filled

Additional components for feedstock storage:A pump and plumbing fittings are needed to transfer prepared oil to reactor

Stage 2: The ReactorYou may need:55 gallon metal drumHDPE prefabricated plastic containerStainless steel vessel

Some basic requirements for biodiesel reactorIt should be sealed or have a cover to prevent fume leaksIdeally it should have a cone shaped bottomIt must have a pump or a high to medium speed mixer of some kind

The Reactor cont.It should be able to take heat. The reaction temp is optimal at around 55 CelsiusIt should have fittings to easily connect plumbingIt should be easily and safely filledSome welding may be requiredPlumbing will be needed to transfer crude biodiesel to the wash stage

The biodiesel reactionOil and methanol are mixed in the presence of a catalyst NaOH or KOH.100 Gallons of oil produces 80 gallons of biodiesel and 25 gallons of glycerin.Glycerin can be disposed of as biodegradable waste, used as soap, or refined into pure glycerin.

The biodiesel reaction

Stage 3: Washing and drying the BiodieselWashing biodiesel involves the removal of chemical impurities and soaps created in the production process, that would cause harm to a vehicle engine. Washing involves mixing water with the crude biodiesel

Drying biodiesel requires the removal of water, via heat or settling, from the biodiesel after it has been washed.

There is new technology now, that does allow for cleaning biodiesel without the use of water.

Stage 3: Washing and drying the biodiesel cont.

Stage 3: Washing and drying the biodiesel cont.You will need:Thorough mixing of biodiesel and water via pumps or mixersApplication of heat for drying, to remove moisture from biodiesel after washingGood drainagePlumbing to transfer from washing to storage

Treating the wash waterThe water after washing, may contain traces of methanol, NaOH or KOH and some soaps.Solar distillation seems to be an effective way to clean up water before disposalAlternatively, investing in zero water technology may be possible with funding.

Stage 4: Biodiesel storage and distributionYou will need:TanksPump fed or gravity fed nozzlesMetering devices

Economics of biodieselInputsSupplyDemand Niche MarketExpensesRevenuesPricing structureBusiness structureFunding

Raw material inputsSecuring raw materialsVege oil collectionFree?Shared?Strategic partnerships with suppliers? Friends? Communities?Chemical importation costsShared?Bulk?Alternatives?Concessions and incentives from Gov.

Your marketRegular usersPower GenerationPublic transportFishing industryPrivate housesHigh end users (yachts, etc.) Supply to state controlled distributor

Your expensesElectricityUsed mainly to heat oil and biodiesel, and power pumpsConventional?Alternatives?WaterMainly for cleaning up biodieselCleaning your water is a huge plus, even if it was originally free.Human labourCollecting oilProcessing biodieselSales and marketingAdmin.Fuel Energy is also used in the vehicle to collect oil and drop off biodieselWhere can you save?

Your revenuesDeveloping the byproduct, glycerinUnique opportunities exist in Dominica to develop assisting technologiesCoconut drying technologyWater harvestersCoconut oil businesses specifically for biodieselHow you generate income can influence your pricing structure, how you promote the fuel and your business philosophy.

Business structure

CentralisedDecentralisedProsConsProsConsRelatively easily managedHigh capital investmentSignificant job creationMore trainingRapid accountabilityExpensive trainingCommunity cohesivenessRed tape due to regulatory bodiesA consolidated operationExpensive overheadsLow capital investment costsLack of control over production supplies (strike potential)A singular vision and goalHigh maintenance costsBetter funding potential from non traditional, community supportive entities (undp)Potential conflict in goal and visionsQuality controlMore efficient access to used cooking oilChallenges in monitoringHigh fire, natural disaster risk due to consolidated natureIncreased likelihood of Dominican users receiving required volumesHigh risk due to storage of chemicalsA central controlling interest in lessenedInflexibility when faced with upheavalsBroad education potentialHigher marketing / public education costsLess likelihood of complete shutdown of supply if one plant is downSignificantly reduced overheadsSignificantly lower maintenance costsGreater business-to-business support

Why support biodiesel?Biodiesel is produced primarily with local materials, significantly reducing foreign exchange expenditure Reduced vulnerability to external fluctuations in fuel prices.Improves Barbados image as an eco destination.Provides a solution to current waste disposal problems and reduces costs incurred through disposal.Health/environmental benefits due to use of the fuel.Significant savings in health care costsJob creation.Establishes linkages to agriculture that might help solidify new avenues for the sectorCan take Barbados steps ahead to true sustainable development

Benefits of biodieselHealth/EnvironmentReduction of carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) by 100% Reduction of sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions by 100% Reduction of soot emissions by 40-60% Reduction of carbon monoxide (CO) emissions by 10-50% Reduction of hydrocarbon (HC) emissions by 10-50% Reduction of all polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and specifically the reduction of the following carcinogenic PAHs: Reduction of phenanthren by 97%Reduction of benzofloroanthen by 56%Reduction of benzapyren by 71%Reduction of aldehydes and aromatic compounds by 13%Reduction or increase in nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions by 5-10% depending on the age and type of engine.

Benefits of biodiesel.Biodiesel runs in any conventional, unmodified diesel engine. In other words, you just pour it into the fuel tank. Biodiesel can be stored anywhere that petroleum diesel fuel is stored. Biodiesel can be used alone or mixed in any amount with petroleum diesel fuel. Biodiesel is more lubricating than diesel fuel. Its higher lubricity enhances the lifetime of the engine.

Benefits of biodieselBiodiesel is safe to handle because it is biodegradable and non-toxic. According to the National Biodiesel Board, neat biodiesel is as biodegradable as sugar and less toxic than salt. Biodiesel is safe to transport. Biodiesel has a high flash point, or ignition temperature, of about 300 deg. F compared to petroleum diesel fuel, which has a flash point of 125 deg. F. Engines running on biodiesel run normally and have similar fuel mileage to engines running on diesel fuel. Auto ignition, fuel consumption, power output, and engine torque are relatively unaffected by biodiesel. When burned in an engine, the exhaust fumes have the pleasant aroma of popcorn or French fries.

Starting up in DominicaConsider starting as a group. Discuss funding options, business structure etc.Seek affordable group trainingConsider collecting raw material. It might be wiser to begin collecting early.Get the materials you have to purchase, in bulkDiscuss how much you want to produce and start for yourselves first.

ObstaclesEfficient collectionFinding a source of methanolFinding the right people to work with

Referenceshttp://www.journeytoforever.orghttp://www.biofuels.coop/

Thank you for your time and attention!

?????

Is biodiesel and biofuel a viable choice?

Use image of storage tanks outside plantTruth is u could even use 5 gallon pails, but would need room to store them all*Indicate what volumes constitute a small to medium processor*What goes on in the reactor. Gives idea as to why the reactor is designed in a certain way.*Because this step raises a lot of questions, Ill include a definition first.*Can be boring, so I will try to discuss in a way thats thought provoking and stimulating. Giving egs of how its done in Bdos*The barbados context: all of the oil we collect is used and ultimately free with the exception of labour and fuel costs. We use our own fuel for collection, but its not the cheapest way to do it. We establised partnerships with some supliers to collect their oil in exchange with their interest in purchasing biodiesel as a discount. Were not sure if this strategy will work exactly, this is still trial and error at this point. Cons: not exactly cheap, have to collect from widely distributed areas, not always sure how much we will collect, It comes to about .10$ us per litre when labour and fuel is included. Sometimes I use friends to help with collection, and there are many times when ppl will bring oil to me on their own.Additionally, working with community bodies is a great way to ensure raw materials come in at a low cost. Schools, churches community centres etc. We will discuss community possibilities in regard to the total economics later (co-ops, decentralisation)Methanol: not cheap. In bdos accounts for more than 30% of production costs. Finding alternatives like ethanol would be ideal, but also come with difficulties. Best scenario currently, find cheaper methanol. Buy in bulk. Community involvment and decentralisation help big time here. Share shipping and storage costs.

Gov incentives: are there any for setting up enviro businesses? Reducing inputs into landfills? Recycling? Cleaning up air? Creating green jobs? Duty free status? Biofuels concessions? Climate change mitigation?*This ties into community efforts. If you go it alone how much will you charge? How many will it benefit community wise? Will you be able to do it all yourself? Consider outside market forces, drop in fuel prices etc. will you market as cheaper, better performance etc. Demand: How much demand is there for conventional fuel? Will there be enough bio to supply all? Will you choose specific niche markets?*One thing we should try to be aware of, is how much energy goes into the production process vs the energy out of biodiesel it self. This indicates a move towards sustainability.In bdos, I monitor my electricity inputs, and found that they were less than the energy output of fuel. Dominica seems well suited to explore hydro energy as an inputWe do use a lot of water, and drinking water at thet. Not a good thing. We are starting to use more rain water, but it is not as plentiful as in Dominica. We started looking at cleaning up our water to cut down on costs. We have more sun.Consideration REALLY ought to be made as to if biodiesel alone is able to sustain itself. Does it need additional support? There IS a usable byproduct!!! Perhaps look at combining all money saving and money earning strategies.Human labour. Dont tax yourselves. Like any business, outsource, share workload, develop partnerships*Coupled with saving and cutting expenses, these strategies above will helpWill you sell cheaper or more expensive. This may seem like a simple question, but its fraught with consequences cheaper means more ppl might buy..is that such a good thing..more expensive means the ppl who need it may not be able to affordwill you promote the fue as a clean alternative? A better performance alternativea dominican security, fuel stable? and these again influence pricing..this also guides what your philosophy iswhy are you doing this?In Barbados, we sold cheaper, but then one day fuel prices dropped, and we were suddenly above diesel..it was likely we would lose clients, so we dropped our price to meet conventionalsthat affected two things immediately, we couldnt market as a stable fuel price, and two, it stimulated intense discussion on if we should have from the beginning, marketed at a higher prrice since the fuel was better performanceobviously, it would keep our revenues at a level we would be happy with..we actually did experiement with higher prices and it does work to some extent, but we have lost some clientsin the long run, its about the FAIR price I feel, and not just about making moneySo supplimenting income may have to avoid some of these thorny issues Of course, we generate more jobs*Of course, the previous slide launches us into discussion on who the overall business structure and philosophy is set up. Why are you doing this? Who does it benefit? You alone? A small select group? The wider community?How is bioiesel best approached? Ive tried to look at both options..community oriented and individually owned. So this slide is more about points for discussion rather than facts or recommendationsBiodiesel to me, seems to be fraught with more difficulties when it is done as an individual by individual business set up. It seems well suited as a community initiative

Use this slide to expand on each of the benefits of biodiesel from the point of view of social impact.We should not look soley on the economic benefits. Of course, the environmental benefits are obvious but we ought to examine the social benefits as well..business needs to recognise its responsibility tto all of these*I am not sure I can give a recommendation on a specific size of a biodiesel plant as there are a lot of variables that determine the decision to build in a pecific way. What I can do, is provide some advice or my opinion, on what is one way I would approach it if I were setting up here:Here is what would be going through my mind:Assuming that I already know how to make biodiesel, I would first:I wouldnt go at it aloneConsider how and when you start gathering your raw materials:Based on what I see of Dominica, and the wide distribution of communities and the challenge of transport, I would open a dialogue with ppl within my community and surrounding commuities in regard to an interest in starting a biodiesel business.Why? I think it would be difficult to start out, in Dominica, on my own, and have to manage with the logistics of collection, and the expense of methanol.I would discuss with interested ppl how much we want to start producing, whether the volumes we are considering producing, when sold will meet all the expenses, and what we need to do to effectively reduce any expenses we can control.Start making for yourself and begin promoting. Biodiesel is still fairly new, and it took me a while to educate ppl to believe they could stick it in their tanks.I would also recommend that instead of getting equipment set up for yourself, involve your whole community or adjoining communities. Use the human resources there for labour etc. Investment as well.Buy in bulk for everyoneLook at training and consultants to give guidance.I would start collecting oil some time before you start producing to give yourself some surplus oilMethanol is going to cost a lot, so I would also consider buying in bulk.This means you may need to partner with other operators and as such consideration as to the business structure is super important.The total size of the operation and outputs also needs to be considered, and from that, perhaps split the volume between operators

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