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biodiesel

pknoeber

Well-known member
Katrina, when you say you get 1 gallon/bushel, is that actually per bushel, or per cwt? I'm pretty sure that 1 bushel of sunflowers is 28 lbs, but I'm not sure what the conversion factors are for oil, in real-life experiences, not lab settings. I'm looking into this b/c irrigation costs are killing us. So I'm looking at putting flowers on some dryland ground, but I'm having trouble figuring out what they'll yield in oil. Here in SW KS a typical dryland yield for sunflowers is anywhere from 1000-1500 lbs/acre. Which equates to 35-53 bu/acre. At 2.87/gallon of fuel, that would be $100-$150/acre of income through the crusher. Does this look righ or am I way off somewhere?
 

Jason

Well-known member
I had a chart that shows potential gallons of biodiesel per acre. Canola was pretty high up, sunflower was too, speciality crops like coconuts and palm oil were tops.

This quote is about different studies using straight oil in diesels, biodiesel is treated.

100 Per Cent Vegetable Oil as Potential Fuel Sources
During World War II, Seddon (1942) experimented with using several different vegetable oils in a Perkins P 6 diesel engine with great success. The results of this experiment showed that vegetable oils could be used to power a vehicle under normal operating conditions. However, it was noted that much more work was needed before vegetable oils could be used as a reliable substitute for diesel fuel.

The Southwest Research Institute, Reid et al. (1982), evaluated the chemical and physical properties of 14 vegetable oils. These injection studies pointed out that the oils behave very differently from petroleum-based fuels. This change in behavior was attributed to the vegetable oils’ high viscosity. Engine tests showed that carbon deposits in the engine were reduced if the oil was heated prior to combustion. It was also noted that carbon deposit levels differed for oils with similar viscosities, indicating that oil composition was also an important factor.

Goering et al. (1981) studied the characteristic properties of eleven vegetable oils to determine which oils would be best suited for use as an alternative fuel source. Of the eleven oils tested, corn, rapeseed, sesame, cottonseed, and soybean oils had the most favorable fuel properties.

Bruwer et al. (1980) studied the use of sunflower seed oil as a renewable energy source. When operating tractors with 100% sunflower oil instead of diesel fuel, an 8% power loss occurred after 1000 hours of operation. The power loss was corrected by replacing the fuel injectors and injector pump. After 1300 hours of operation, the carbon deposits in the engine were reported to be equivalent to an engine fueled with 100% diesel except for the injector tips, which exhibited excessive carbon build-up.

Tahir et al. (1982) tested sunflower oil as a replacement for diesel fuel in agricultural tractors. Sunflower oil viscosity was 14% higher than diesel fuel at 37°C. Engine performance using the sunflower oil was similar to that of diesel fuel, but with a slight decrease in fuel economy. Oxidation of the sunflower oil left heavy gum and wax deposits on test equipment, which could lead to engine failure.

Bacon et al. (1981) evaluated the use of several vegetable oils as potential fuel sources. Initial engine performance tests using vegetable oils were found to be acceptable, while noting that the use of these oils caused carbon build up in the combustion chamber. Continuous running of a diesel engine at part-load and mid-speeds was found to cause rapid carbon deposition rates on the injector tips. Short 2-hour tests were used to visually compare the effects of using different vegetable oils in place of diesel fuel. Although short-term engine test results were promising, Bacon recommended long-term engine testing to determine the overall effects of using vegetables oils as a fuel in diesel engines.

Schoedder (1981) used rapeseed oils as a diesel fuel replacement in Germany with mixed results. Short-term engine tests indicated rapeseed oil had similar energy outputs when compared to diesel fuel. Initial long-term engine tests showed that difficulties arose in engine operation after 100 hours due to deposits on piston rings, valves, and injectors. The investigators indicated that further long-term testing was needed to determine if these difficulties could be adverted.

Auld et al. (1982) used rapeseed oil to study the effects of using an alternative fuel in diesel engines. An analysis of the rapeseed oil showed a relationship between viscosity and fatty acid chain length. Engine power and torque results using rapeseed oil were similar to that of diesel fuel. Results of the short-term tests indicated further long-term testing was needed to evaluate engine durability when rapeseed oil was used.


Bettis et al. (1982) evaluated sunflower, safflower, and rapeseed oils were evaluated as possible sources for liquid fuels. The vegetable oils were found to contain 94% to 95% of the energy content of diesel fuel, and to be approximately 15 times as viscous. Short-term engine tests indicated that for the vegetable oils power output was nearly equivalent to that of diesel fuel, but long-term durability tests indicated severe problems due to carbonization of the combustion chamber.

Engler et al. (1983) found that engine performance tests using raw sunflower and cottonseed vegetable oils as alternative fuels gave poor results. Engine performance tests for processed vegetable oils produced results slightly better than similar tests for diesel fuel. However, carbon deposits and lubricating oil contamination problems were noted, indicating that these oils are acceptable only for short-term use as a fuel source.

Pryor et al. (1983) conducted short and long-term engine performance tests using 100% soybean oil in a small diesel engine. Short-term test results indicated the soybean performance was equivalent to that of diesel fuel. However, long-term engine testing was aborted due to power loss and carbon buildup on the injectors.

Yarbrough et al. (1981) experienced similar results when testing six sunflower oils as diesel fuel replacements. Raw sunflower oils were found to be unsuitable fuels, while refined sunflower oil was found to be satisfactory. Degumming and dewaxing the vegetable oils were required to prevent engine failure even if the vegetable oils were blended with diesel fuel.

Over 30 different vegetable oils have been used to operate compression engines since the 1900’s (Quick, 1980). Initial engine performance suggests that these oil-based fuels have great potential as fuel substitutes. Extended operation indicated that carbonization of critical engine components resulted from the use of raw vegetable oil fuels, which can lead to premature engine failure. Blending vegetable oil with diesel fuel was found to be a method to reduce coking and extend engine life.

Pryde (1982) reviewed the reported successes and shortcomings for alternative fuel research. This article stated that short-term engine tests using vegetable oils as a fuel source was very promising. However, long-term engine test results showed that durability problems were encountered with vegetable oils because of carbon buildup and lubricating oil contamination. Thus, it was concluded that vegetable oils must either be chemically altered or blended with diesel fuel to prevent premature engine failure.

Studies involving the use of raw vegetable oils as a replacement fuel for diesel fuel indicate that a diesel engine can be successfully fuel with 100% vegetable oil on a short-term basis. However, long-term engine durability studies show that fueling diesel engines with 100% vegetable oil causes engine failure due to engine oil contamination, stuck piston rings, and excessive carbon build-up on internal engine components. Therefore 100% unmodified vegetable oils are not reasonable diesel fuel replacements.
 

Jason

Well-known member
Here's the chart I hope it prints clearly.

Vegetable oil yields
Biodiesel yield = oil yield x 0.8 approx.


Note: These are conservative estimates -- crop yields can vary widely.

Ascending order

Crop kg oil/ha litres oil/ha lbs oil/acre US gal/acre
corn (maize) 145 172 129 18
cashew nut 148 176 132 19
oats 183 217 163 23
lupine 195 232 175 25
kenaf 230 273 205 29
calendula 256 305 229 33
cotton 273 325 244 35
hemp 305 363 272 39
soybean 375 446 335 48
coffee 386 459 345 49
linseed (flax) 402 478 359 51
hazelnuts 405 482 362 51
euphorbia 440 524 393 56
pumpkin seed 449 534 401 57
coriander 450 536 402 57
mustard seed 481 572 430 61
camelina 490 583 438 62
sesame 585 696 522 74
safflower 655 779 585 83
rice 696 828 622 88
tung oil tree 790 940 705 100
sunflowers 800 952 714 102
cocoa (cacao) 863 1026 771 110
peanuts 890 1059 795 113
opium poppy 978 1163 873 124
rapeseed 1000 1190 893 127
olives 1019 1212 910 129
castor beans 1188 1413 1061 151
pecan nuts 1505 1791 1344 191
jojoba 1528 1818 1365 194
jatropha 1590 1892 1420 202
macadamia nuts 1887 2246 1685 240
brazil nuts 2010 2392 1795 255
avocado 2217 2638 1980 282
coconut 2260 2689 2018 287
oil palm 5000 5950 4465 635
 

Jason

Well-known member
An average crop of sunflowers would yield 102 US gallons of oil per acre.

(according to the above chart)

Average crop and oil content would vary I am sure.
 

katrina

Well-known member
Guys... Our oil content varies from year to year. I do know that last year you could squeeze a sun seed between your fingers and oil would run out of the shell. Sunflowers are measured by pounds. I just asked Roscoe at the dinner table, because someone asked and that's what he told me about the bushel thingy.. We can find no differance wether pulling or going down the road any differance in our mileage on our 7.3. Only thing differant is the exhaust..
For Gods sake do not plant confectionary seeds... You'll be walking bowed legged for a while...
We have run several tanks full of biodiesel and can find no differance in the fuel filters or the injectors.... The best thing to do is pm me and I will give you our phone number so you can talk to the man.... Come for a tour. I do think there is a fella in Kansas that is doing the vary same thing and has more experiance than us.....
 

andybob

Well-known member
Due to U.N. imposed sanctions from 1965-1980, we had petrolium oil shortages, all fuel at the pumps was 50% ethanol from the surplus sugar we could not export due to sanctions,many farms ran on sunflower oil, biogas from manure and gas produced from heated crop residues, to run generators and water pumps. The cake left after extrating the oil was used in stockfeeds,one problem with the protien cake was too high a levelof sunflower, causes soft fat in pigs, and brisket 'blisters' in chickens,I don't think anyone fed too high a percentage to cattle, as I never heared of negative affects in beef.
 

cowsense

Well-known member
Sounds pretty good ................................................................................................................................................................................................................But I'm scared that Katrina is just using this for payback to get the WD40 villains :shock: :shock: :lol: Anyone up to offering their diesel outfit as a test machine?????????????? :lol: :wink:
 

nr

Well-known member
Well Katrina, so many people plus politicians TALk about decreasing our dependency upon foreign oil but you and Roscoe are the ONLY ones we've met who are really doing something about it.
We're proud to know you! :clap: :clap: :clap:
 

cowsense

Well-known member
katrina said:
Thanks nr...... Hopefully everyone will someday have their own little still for biodiesel and ethenol..

Used to be a lot of the old boys had their "ethanol stills" set up.............course they had to hide them cause they never thought of wasting the stuff on their vehicles!! :p :p :p :lol: :lol: :lol: :wink:
 

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