Biodiesel and Dipetane Fuel Treatment
Biodiesel is a fuel with attributes showing remarkable
similarities to ordinary diesel but it is made out of renewable
plant oils or animal fats. The oils used tend in the main
to be rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, palm oil or soya bean
oil.
To obtain high quality fuel, the oils need to undergo
a chemical reaction with methanol resulting in a methyl
ester. An example of this is rape-methyl-ester (RME).
Bio-diesel is non-toxic, contains low levels of sulphur
and aromatics and is bio-degradable.
The combustion properties of diesel and biodiesel are
so similar that normal diesel engines can operate on biodiesel
with only minor technical changes.
No technical changes are required to engines if up to
5% biodiesel is added to normal diesel. With a mixture
greater than 5% the risk exists that the rubber used for
gaskets and fuel hoses may deteriorate.
It is perhaps worthwhile mentioning that biodiesel sold
at petrol stations contains less than 5% plant/animal oil
and in fact consists of mineral oil for 95%.
The following attributes are of additional relevance
when using Dipetane:
The difference in heating power between normal diesel
and bio-diesel leads to a reduction in engine power. By
treating biodiesel with Dipetane fuel treatment, this reduction
does not take place (>35,700kj/litre).
The addition of Dipetane fuel treatment to biodiesel also
ensures reduced fuel consumption as found with normal diesel. However we do NOT endorse the use of Dipetane in Biofuels made from recycled cooking oil as this may contain salt which could damage the engine.
