Alternative Fuels: Friend or Alternative Fuels: Friend or Foe for the United States?Foe for the United States?

Lacey Downing, Katie Keim, and Lacey Downing, Katie Keim, and

Chris WeissChris Weiss

Florida Golf Coast UniversityFlorida Golf Coast University

We believe Bio Diesel is the most environmentally We believe Bio Diesel is the most environmentally friendly and cost effective fuel source for the future. It will friendly and cost effective fuel source for the future. It will provide the nation with energy independence. provide the nation with energy independence.

Bio DieselBio DieselBio dieselBio diesel: : Bio diesel refers to a diesel-equivalent, Bio diesel refers to a diesel-equivalent,

processed fuel derived from biological sources (such as processed fuel derived from biological sources (such as vegetable oils), which can be used in unmodified diesel-vegetable oils), which can be used in unmodified diesel-

engine vehicles.engine vehicles.

Bio diesel is distinguished from the straight vegetable oils or waste Bio diesel is distinguished from the straight vegetable oils or waste vegetable oils used as fuels in some modified diesel vehicles. You vegetable oils used as fuels in some modified diesel vehicles. You

can even use french fry grease.can even use french fry grease.

Bio diesel is biodegradable and non-toxic, and produces Bio diesel is biodegradable and non-toxic, and produces significantly fewer emissions than petroleum-based diesel when significantly fewer emissions than petroleum-based diesel when

burned.burned.

Bio diesel also eliminates the cloud of dense, black smoke normally Bio diesel also eliminates the cloud of dense, black smoke normally associated with diesel vehicles.associated with diesel vehicles.

It also has better lubricity than diesel fuel because of its higher It also has better lubricity than diesel fuel because of its higher viscosity.viscosity.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=UcKpIB1HYKMhttp://youtube.com/watch?v=UcKpIB1HYKM

Petroleum DieselPetroleum DieselPetroleum DieselPetroleum Diesel: Diesel or diesel fuel is a specific : Diesel or diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of fuel oil (mostly petroleum) that is fractional distillate of fuel oil (mostly petroleum) that is used as fuel in a diesel engine. The term typically used as fuel in a diesel engine. The term typically refers to fuel that has been processed from petroleum.refers to fuel that has been processed from petroleum.

Due to petrodiesel’s high level of pollutants, diesel fuel must Due to petrodiesel’s high level of pollutants, diesel fuel must undergo additional filtration which contributes to a undergo additional filtration which contributes to a sometimes higher cost. Diesel fuel often contains higher sometimes higher cost. Diesel fuel often contains higher quantities of sulfur. quantities of sulfur.

PPetrodiesel is made of oil that mainly comes from foreign etrodiesel is made of oil that mainly comes from foreign countries. We have become dependent on their resources countries. We have become dependent on their resources which may have been a cause of conflict between the U.S. which may have been a cause of conflict between the U.S. and these countries.and these countries.

Compare And Contrast of Bio Diesel to Compare And Contrast of Bio Diesel to Petroleum Diesel Petroleum Diesel

Compared to petroleum diesel, Compared to petroleum diesel, bio diesel is environmentally bio diesel is environmentally friendly and is government friendly and is government mandated. It reduces carbon mandated. It reduces carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrocarbons and other dioxide, hydrocarbons and other particulate matter emissions that particulate matter emissions that cause respiratory damage.cause respiratory damage.

Bio fuels can also be as affected Bio fuels can also be as affected in diesel engines just as in diesel engines just as efficiently as petrodiesel. Bio efficiently as petrodiesel. Bio fuels require less energy, fuels require less energy, reduces tail pipe particulate reduces tail pipe particulate matter, and has reduced harmful matter, and has reduced harmful emissions emissions

Bio diesel mixes cleanly at any ratio with petrodiesel-- in fact, adding only a Bio diesel mixes cleanly at any ratio with petrodiesel-- in fact, adding only a

small amount of bio diesel to petrodiesel results in greatly lowered emissions.small amount of bio diesel to petrodiesel results in greatly lowered emissions.

GRAPH KEY: GRAPH KEY: THC: total hydrocarbons, CO: carbon monoxide, NOx: nitrogen oxidesTHC: total hydrocarbons, CO: carbon monoxide, NOx: nitrogen oxidesPAH: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nPAH: nitrated PAHPAH: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nPAH: nitrated PAHB20: 20% bio diesel / 80% diesel, B100: 100% bio diesel B20: 20% bio diesel / 80% diesel, B100: 100% bio diesel

Source: Cincinnati Office of Environmental Management & US Department of Energy NREL studies. World Energy studies show Source: Cincinnati Office of Environmental Management & US Department of Energy NREL studies. World Energy studies show significantly lower emissions. significantly lower emissions.

**This graph compares pure bio diesel, blended bio diesel and **This graph compares pure bio diesel, blended bio diesel and petrodiesel. Double check the percentage level of emissions (Ex: NOX)petrodiesel. Double check the percentage level of emissions (Ex: NOX)

This graph was retrieved from Biofeul.be:This graph was retrieved from Biofeul.be:

www.biofuel.be/whatisbiodiesel.htmlwww.biofuel.be/whatisbiodiesel.html

Not to be bias…..Not to be bias…..

Overview of Nitrogen OxidesOverview of Nitrogen OxidesNOxNOx is a generic term for the various nitrogen is a generic term for the various nitrogen oxides produced during combustion. oxides produced during combustion. They are believed to aggravate asthmatic They are believed to aggravate asthmatic conditions, react with the oxygen in the air to conditions, react with the oxygen in the air to produce ozone, which is also an irritant and produce ozone, which is also an irritant and eventually form nitric acid when dissolved in eventually form nitric acid when dissolved in water. water. When dissolved in atmospheric moisture the When dissolved in atmospheric moisture the result can be acid rain which can damage both result can be acid rain which can damage both trees and entire forest ecosystems.trees and entire forest ecosystems.

A mixture is often formed in chemical reactions that A mixture is often formed in chemical reactions that produce nitrogen oxides, with the proportions depending on produce nitrogen oxides, with the proportions depending on the specific reaction and the conditions it is performed in. the specific reaction and the conditions it is performed in.

              

    Nitrogen dioxide,

NO2

           

       Nitric oxide,

NO

Nitrous oxide, N2O

Dinitrogen trioxide, N2O3

Dinitrogen tetroxide,

N2O4

Dinitrogen pentoxide,

N2O5

• This is one reason why home production of N2O is undesirable; the other two This is one reason why home production of N2O is undesirable; the other two stable oxides — which are extremely toxic — are liable to be produced.stable oxides — which are extremely toxic — are liable to be produced.

• When bio fuels are mixed properly, NOx is only a small percentage higher then When bio fuels are mixed properly, NOx is only a small percentage higher then coal and oil based fuels.coal and oil based fuels.

**Note that the last three listed above are unstable.**Note that the last three listed above are unstable.

PROS VS. CONSPROS VS. CONS

Fuels and lubricants Fuels and lubricants made from vegetable made from vegetable oils actually perform oils actually perform better and pollute less better and pollute less than their petroleum than their petroleum counterparts.counterparts.

Their big drawback, Their big drawback, however, is that they're however, is that they're two to three times more two to three times more expensive. expensive. For that reason, For that reason, researchers are adapting researchers are adapting vegetable oil for those vegetable oil for those fuel markets where its fuel markets where its advantages might justify advantages might justify its costits cost100% Bio diesel have a 100% Bio diesel have a higher Nitrogen Oxide higher Nitrogen Oxide emissionsemissions

Bio Diesel 101Bio Diesel 101

http://http://youtube.com/watch?vyoutube.com/watch?v=NGptWo6elAE=NGptWo6elAE

4Refuel Management Leader4Refuel Management Leader

Mr. Lee is the founder Mr. Lee is the founder and controlling and controlling shareholder of 4REFUEL shareholder of 4REFUEL Canada Ltd. formerly Canada Ltd. formerly Mini-Tankers Canada Ltd. Mini-Tankers Canada Ltd. Jack's vision is to develop Jack's vision is to develop the 4REFUEL business in the 4REFUEL business in Canada to be the Canada to be the recognized national recognized national diesel refueling solution diesel refueling solution of choice.of choice.

http://www.4refuel.com/http://www.4refuel.com/

JACK LEE - Chairman, JACK LEE - Chairman, President and Chief President and Chief Executive OfficerExecutive Officer

The idea of bio diesel has been The idea of bio diesel has been around since as early as 1893 when around since as early as 1893 when the Ford Model T was introduced.the Ford Model T was introduced.

It was the first mass-produced vehicle It was the first mass-produced vehicle capable of running on gasoline, capable of running on gasoline, ethanol or a combination of the two. ethanol or a combination of the two.

Due to recent environmental and political Due to recent environmental and political concerns bio diesel has now reemerged as a concerns bio diesel has now reemerged as a

growing fuel alternative.growing fuel alternative.

Examples:Examples:The environment was affected by the major hurricanes of 2005; The environment was affected by the major hurricanes of 2005; “they destroyed 30 oil platforms and caused the closure of nine “they destroyed 30 oil platforms and caused the closure of nine refineries; the total shut-in oil production from the Gulf of refineries; the total shut-in oil production from the Gulf of Mexico in the six-month period following Katrina was Mexico in the six-month period following Katrina was approximately 24% of the annual production and the shut-in approximately 24% of the annual production and the shut-in gas production for the same period was about 18%”gas production for the same period was about 18%”

The United States has been fighting in Iraq for over 6 years The United States has been fighting in Iraq for over 6 years now. New concerns about American energy security and the now. New concerns about American energy security and the stability of supplies were raised due to the violence in the stability of supplies were raised due to the violence in the Middle East.Middle East.http://http://youtube.com/watch?vyoutube.com/watch?v=qCbeN1OSnw8=qCbeN1OSnw8

The nation is starting to panic about the effects The nation is starting to panic about the effects of the war and is planning to abort. America of the war and is planning to abort. America wants to become energy independent and is wants to become energy independent and is finding alternative ways for our vehicles to run, finding alternative ways for our vehicles to run, besides using petrodiesel.besides using petrodiesel.

Congress passed The Energy Policy Act of 2005 Congress passed The Energy Policy Act of 2005 which was intended to establish a long-range which was intended to establish a long-range energy policy. It focuses on newer, more energy policy. It focuses on newer, more efficient energy technologies. Congress efficient energy technologies. Congress mandates that refiners use 7.5 billion gallons of mandates that refiners use 7.5 billion gallons of renewable fuels annually by 2012.renewable fuels annually by 2012.

This graph shows oil consumption This graph shows oil consumption in 2005, before the passing of the in 2005, before the passing of the

Energy Policy Act Energy Policy Act

November of 2006, President George W. Bush promoted November of 2006, President George W. Bush promoted renewable fuels and other alternative sources of energy, saying renewable fuels and other alternative sources of energy, saying America must be weaned from its desire for foreign oil.America must be weaned from its desire for foreign oil.

According to environmental and market analysts, investments According to environmental and market analysts, investments in renewable energy sources and the market share of in renewable energy sources and the market share of renewable energy sources are growing rapidly.renewable energy sources are growing rapidly.

ConclusionConclusion

Bio fuels reduce green house effects, lowers tail pipe Bio fuels reduce green house effects, lowers tail pipe emissions, is cost effective and has proven to be emissions, is cost effective and has proven to be environmentally friendly.environmentally friendly.

Anyone who is serious about national and economic Anyone who is serious about national and economic security knows we must be serious about moving our security knows we must be serious about moving our country toward real energy independence. This process country toward real energy independence. This process cannot be achieved overnight. It will take a generation at cannot be achieved overnight. It will take a generation at least - which is all the more reason we must begin least - which is all the more reason we must begin immediately. immediately.

We found bio fuels to be the most environmentally friendly We found bio fuels to be the most environmentally friendly and cost effective fuel source for the future. It offers the and cost effective fuel source for the future. It offers the opportunity to provide the nation with energy opportunity to provide the nation with energy independence. independence.