The actual oil industry believes biodiesel is not to
blame for problems that Norwegian car owners are going through. But the nature
of the energy means that it has to be handled totally different to what would be
the norm regular petroleum-based diesel, the Norwegian researcher says,
specially in colder climates or when it is stored for longer intervals.
Can diesel made from any biodiesel blend be held
responsible for clogged car filter systems and nozzles, reduced or even lost
engine power as well as costly visits to the garage area by Norwegian car
proprietors? No, says the oil business. But Professor Terese Løvås from the
Norwegian University associated with Science and Technology (NTNU) doesn't want
to dismiss biodiesel concerns so easily.
"We know that biodiesel behaves completely different
than they would say petroleum-derived diesel. Biodiesel is really a 'living'
substance that can modify and deteriorate over time. This could create problems
that are not resolved adequately by the current Eu (EU) product standards. We
might need to review all the appropriate standards, and look at exactly what
needs to be done to prevent these types of problems, " says Løvås, from NTNU's
Department of one's and Process Engineering.
Almost all auto diesel fuel bought from Norway contains
as much as seven per cent biodiesel. The mix is intended to help reduce CO2
emissions, because in principle biological carbon fuel are climate neutral. The
particular biodiesel/petrodiesel fuel blend specifications are based on EU
product requirements that stipulate detailed gas characteristics under various
circumstances.
Clogged filters
However , Norwegian car owners regularly statement that
they have problems where biodiesel is suspected to be the trigger. Following a
sharp increase in blocked diesel filters a few years back, the British
Department with regard to Transport asked the essential oil industry and
regulatory regulators to solve the problem. Auto filtration became plugged by a
waxy substance in cold weather, and also cars lost engine energy. The BBC
reported that this biodiesel additive was the possible cause of the problems. A
possible description was the use of recycled food preparation oil, which clumps
easily in the cold.
The Norwegian television programme "TV two hjelper"
reported the issues of a car owner who previously this winter struggled with
repetitive engine problems and costly repairs. The auto repair center said that
her car could hardly tolerate diesel with the biofuel additive. The program also
questioned a repair shop owner who else said his shop maintained one to two cars
a week which had clogged filters along with nozzles, probably caused by
biodiesel.
A familiar problem
According to Løvås, we don't know the full level of the
problem or just how much it has increased since biodiesel has been blended into
petrodiesel, but it is quite clear that it is growing problem. "It's a well
known issue among researchers and also the subject of a lot of investigation, "
she says.
The main concern is that biofuels are less steady than
petrodiesel, and they degrade over time. Light, temperature in addition to
humidity increase the rate of decay.
"Biofuels contain oxygen substances, which can lead to
oxidation when the fuel is not processed as well as stored properly. The
gasoline then forms waxy ingredients that can clog filters and also nozzles, "
says Løvås.
The EU product regular EN590 summarizes the product
needs for diesel fuel. The conventional contains detailed requirements regarding
cetane numbers (corresponding in order to octane in gasoline), thickness and
viscosity, for example. Researchers, governments, engine manufacturers along
with oil companies have collaborated to develop and periodically up-date the
standard over many years.
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