UIUC BIODIESEL INITIATIVEENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS
Great Lakes Regional ConferenceLocal Projects Focus
Mission Statement The UIUC Biodiesel Initiative is a local
project focused primarily on lowering the emissions of the university and promoting education of renewable fuel sources. Our team strives to make the UIUC Biodiesel Initiative a model for university and community biodiesel production.
Agenda Project Briefing Similar projects at other universities Starting a project at your university Questions
Picture from www.dervaesinstitute.org
Biodiesel basics Biodiesel is an alternative fuel
to petroleum diesel that is more campus- and environmentally-friendly
When produced from waste vegetable oil, it’s a very eco-friendly and economically-friendly fuel
Biodiesel basics Cons of Biodiesel
Cold weather properties
Short shelf life Warranties Materials
incompatibility
Pros of Biodiesel Lower emissions Renewable fuel
source Waste recycling Cost savings Produced and used
locally
UIUC Biodiesel Initiative: From Fries to Fuel Collect waste oil from dining halls Buy other inputs (methanol and KOH) Perform the transesterification reaction Separate the glycerin and rinse the
biodiesel Test the biodiesel Implement fuel system for campus
trucks and tractors
Waste oil collection Waste vegetable oil from University
Housing serves >8000 students daily
~400 gallons/week 7 Residence Halls across campus
Reaction Biodiesel is a product of a transesterification
reaction Inputs:
Waste Vegetable Oil Methanol Catalyst (i.e. KOH)
Reactions: Heat to 55C for 2 hours
Outputs: Glycerin Biodiesel
The batch process can take place on a scale smaller than the Appleseed (water heater) or several times greater than our 400-gallon reactorsoap-queen.blogspot.com
Reaction Produces 400 gallons per batch.
1:1 ratio of WVO to Biodiesel 1:1 ratio of methanol to glycerin
Uses water to purify fuel. Roughly a 4:1 water to waste oil ratio Our 400 gal. reaction will require 1600 gal.
water
Testing As close as possible to ASTM Standards 7 tests reasonably assure quality
Viscosity Specific Gravity Acid Number Water and Sediment Cloud point Flashpoint Gas Chromatography
Integration Splash blending in
underground tank Subsequent to
positive testing results
Major ramifications if a bad batch enters underground tank
Testing is a crucial step
Biodiesel Blend will vary based on timing First week: ~3%
blend Fourth week: ~18%
blend
www.stickerguy.com
Future plans Waste oil collection expands to
Private dining halls Local restaurants Algae
Excess biodiesel used in campus Tractors Buses
Outreach expands Reactor as tool for education and research Local community outreach Agronomy Day, EOH, and other Learning Fairs Exhibit at regional and national biodiesel conferences Aid and encourage other biodiesel initiatives
Similar projects at other universities CU Biodiesel- University of Colorado at
Boulder Small-scale reactor Buy biodiesel and implement in all buses
Rice University Biodiesel Initiative Started really small (200 mL batches) Starting this semester, produces 70
gallon batches for use in campus fleet
Picture from http://www.answers.com/topic/biodiesel
Starting a biodiesel project Develop a goal Find a market for your product
Simple, one or two customers to start Check warranties
Find good contacts for consulting Past EWB helpful professors or consultants Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Department Waste Management and Research Center
Publicize and Apply for grants
Organizing a biodiesel project UIUC Biodiesel
4 different steps WVO acquisition Reactor Design Testing Outreach
4 different committees
2 goals, production, outreach
Officers and Committee Leaders
X University Biodiesel How many steps? Committee
framework or step-by-step implementation
Is production the main goal? Is outreach more important? Is there a third factor?
Formal hierarchy or more decentralized
Conducting a biodiesel project Small-scale set-
up Architecture -
mock-up Build experience
on small scale Small-scale set-
up has many future uses Outreach Publicity Other oil sources
(algae?)
Barriers
Picking up and moving the WVO
Spill concerns at pick up
Finding a secure and proper location to react
Pickup truck and barrels at dining halls
Secondary containment and spill kit
Facilities and Services Garage and Carpool
Concerns Resolutions
Barriers
Safety for students
Where to grow?
Sustainability of the initiative
Developed guidelines for all participants
Expanding within university
Positive benefits insured over time
Concerns Resolutions
A happy ending Demand for biodiesel soared over the
past semester The construction plans to construction
services by October 17th. Modifications to be complete by the new
year Reactor construction to begin in January Production to begin in February
Thank you Dean Bruce Litchfield Professor Alan Hansen Doug Bennet- WMRC Facilities and Services UIUC Dining Services Kraft Foods ADM Liftomatic
QUESTIONS?