UIUC BIODIESEL INITIATIVE ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS

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?