EPA Sulfur Rule May Help Biodiesel
9 January 2006This year, ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) will be rolling out and by October 15th, all diesel fuel sold in the U.S. must have only 15ppm (parts per million) sulfur content compared to the 500ppm that has been the standard up to this point. Sulfur, though raising emissions, helps lubricate diesel engines so a substitute additive will be necessary and advocates are hoping biodiesel will be that substitute whenever possible. Biodiesel has lubricating properties not found in regular diesel.
The problem is one of cost, chemical substitutes can be added for a fraction of a cent per gallon, while biodiesel would add 3 to 6 cents per gallon in sufficient quantities for it to perform the lubricating function. Biodiesel has government incentives promoting its use, however, and biodiesel adds power in its own right, other additives perform the lubricating function and nothing else. Adding in the fact that farmers supplying soybeans and other oil crops will also benefit, choosing biodiesel could provide a net benefit.
via Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
Posted in Biodiesel
| Top Of Page
January 9th, 2006 at 11:49 pm
How can it be said that biodiesel provides superior lubricity when there is no lubricity standard to begin with?
There is no standard because the available tests ( HFRR / SBOCLE) have been found to be imprecise and unreliable.
They do not take into account combustion temperatures.
The federal gov’t has given up on biodiesel. Biodiesel only fourishes where it’s mandated.
January 10th, 2006 at 10:50 am
Whether or not there is a standard, the lubricity is still a factor. Although my memory is a bit hazy, when lead was removed from gasoline back in the 70s, engines had to be modified, (primarily valve seats) to make up for the loss of the lubrication from the lead. Was there a standard? I don’t really recall but that doesn’t change the fact that the lead performed that function, same as sulfur in diesel fuel.
As to the feds giving up on biodiesel, I would suggest looking at the recent requirements to include biofuels in future fuel production in the U.S. Along with tax incentives, which are such that they are even attracting foreign producers, the government is very supportive of biodiesel.
That said, I’m not sure they should be supporting it to the degree they are. Biodiesel is a great fuel but if we mandate its use, that means the market can provide better and less costly alternatives which people have to be prevented from using, which also says the government has chosen a winner before all of the alternatives have been tested against one another.