Vegetable oils are quickly becoming an alternative to the fuels that we are using so much of every day.
Alternative vegetable fuels are a substance that is being used in many areas for manufacturing and in cooking.
Vegetable oil constantly has to be changed when used in cooking and in manufacturing for a clean oil that will help the production and the taste of products when cooked.
Because one is constantly changing the vegetables oils that are used in this manner, there is a lot of left over oils that need to be addressed for additional use or for disposal.
Over the years, thousands and millions of gallons of vegetable oils have been thrown into landfills and into the garbage, but now with testing and procedures; this same vegetable oil can be used to run cars, to run a tractor, and to heat the home.
Production of alternative vegetable fuel
The used vegetable oil must be somewhat cleaned before burning to take out water, and to take out debris that may be in the oil. This is not difficult as you can use filters or a manufacturing process to clean the oils.
As the oils are cleaned, and the debris removed you are left with a recycled product that will burn nicely, cleanly and with very little cost compared to processed oil created from the use of gas and oil.
With the use of vegie oil car system, vehicles can be converted and allowed to start running on vegetable oil.
The vegie oil car system consists of heat exchangers that get their heat from the engines waste heat.
Vegetable oil is vicious oil and has a very high fuel burnable or combustible temperature. That is why the temperature of the oil is raised in other to reduce its viscosity and bring its temperature to flash point.
Uses of alternative vegetable fuel
Vegetable oil is used in making biodiesel and can be used straight in heating the home. What many people don’t realize is that there is millions and millions of gallons of waste oil out there every year.
Consider how many gallons of gas you use in a year, and how many gallons of oil you burn every year in your home. Now consider if you were getting all that free, or at least at a very lower cost, what would you choose to use?
Products of vegetable oils soap pyrolysis is used in alternating diesel engine oil. These products can be used effectively in pyrolyzing products that are hydrogen rich.
Using alternative vegetable fuel without mixing with petroleum diesel can clog the engine. Therefore, before using, ensure it is totally rid of impurities and then mixed with diesel.
Another way of using alternative vegetable fuel to avoid clog is to use a two tank system in your engine. The two tank system works by starting and shutting down the engine with petroleum.
For clarity, petroleum tank starts up the engine and allows the alternative vegetable oil to take over and while shutting down the engine, the petroleum tank flushes the alternative vegetable fuel from the engine.
Modifying the oil
Modifications are required before vegetable oil can be effectively used. The modification process starts by installing nozzles for fuel injection.
The nozzles should have very effective filtration system that filters impurities and ensure only passage of pure oil into the combustion chamber. If the oil is too filthy, it can be first filtered with a durable fabric.
Performance can the filtration process can be improved by using new glow plugs which in cold start condition, ignites the fuel.
The fuel can be additionally heated by ensuring contact between the fuel lines and engines coolant lines. The viscosity of the oil can be greatly reduced by this process.
Sources of alternative vegetable fuel
Vegetable oil is taken from plants and plants can be re-grown every year. There is very little cost in using this alternative oil, and many people are turning to this type of oil as an alternative and cutting cost.
Soybeans
Vegetable oils can be created from soybeans as well as from other types of plants. Soy is being used to create many things such as milk, burgers and even pastas, but the parts of the plant that are not being used for other products can be used to create the oil we need to drive our car, heat our home and so much more.
Other sources of alternative vegetable fuel include; palm oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, animal fats, olive oil, and rapeseed oil among others. Oil can be derived from all these plants and then used as renewable alternative fuels.
Benefits of using alternative vegetable fuel
Biodiesel is a result of mixing the oils with the diesel that is already being used on the market.
- Prolonged availability of diesel
Biodiesel is going to help prolong the availability of the diesel we do have as resources start to run lower, and the testing on alternative fuels continue.
What is really good about using vegetable oils in the use of heating the home or in running your car?
- Reduced emissions and pollutions
There is much lower amount of emissions and pollutions that are given off when using vegetable oils. Organically grown plants are going to give off the least amount of pollutants.
Reducing pollution includes reducing the carbon monoxide and the carbon dioxide that is in our air, and that is destroying the ozone layers.
In cutting back on pollution we are creating a better atmosphere and a cleaner air for our children and our generations to come.
Therefore, generally, alternative vegetable fuel is non-toxic to the environment and burns cleaner. Additionally, their production is through a renewable resource.
Is it cost effective using alternative vegetable fuel?
Well, from all indications, the cost of using diesel and alternative vegetable fuel equals. However, if you can get the vegetable oil free from your local restaurant, alternative vegetable fuel can be cheap.
As said earlier, it requires quite an effort to run an engine with the kind of fuel. At the present, very few people use alternative vegetable oil for fueling their vehicles.
Bottom line
There has been no detrimental effect in the use of alternative vegetable fuel as fuel. Instead, they are known to be cheaper, easily available and beneficial to the environment as they cause little or no pollution.
Alternative vegetable fuel is beneficial to vehicles and also in heating the house. It is generally regarded as the best alternative or substitute to commercial fuel like diesel.
So, instead of throwing away old vegetable oil, convert them as fuel by filtering and mixing with diesel for fueling your car etc. it is important however to note that this kind of fuel can be used only in diesel engines.
