Doug
Voyager 
Lurking within...the car deck.
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Doug on Sept 26, 2005 21:02:11 GMT -8
Unlike fossil fuels, this fuel is clean, more efficient and is better on engines. As oil prices rise, bio-diesel should not move a lot because the best of it is 100% free of any fossil fuel. Typically, bio-diesel is mixed with regular diesel to provide a "cleaner" emission, but 100% bio-diesel will drastically reduce emissions of up to 80%. It emits carbon dioxide, which is not as toxic as carbon monoxide. In fact, the emissions from a bio-diesel ran engine are less toxic than table salt!
I say we start using this alternative, fuel surcharge or not. We can be the first, while oldest, ferry fleet in the world to use it. What do you guys think? Something BC Ferries should consider?
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Doug
Voyager
Lurking within...the car deck.
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Doug on Sept 26, 2005 21:05:47 GMT -8
*One last note: lets keep this beautiful coast clean.  |
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Post by Ferryman on Sept 26, 2005 21:05:53 GMT -8
Sounds like a good idea. Would the Ferries get better mileage? or about the same as they do now? If they were to do this, they should try it on one or two ferries, like a minor and a major, and see how it works out.
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Post by Balfour on Sept 26, 2005 21:08:15 GMT -8
I think it's a great idea. btw my friend knows someone who ran their Deisel Volkswagon mostly on Vegetable Oil.
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Post by Dane on Sept 26, 2005 21:12:00 GMT -8
It does absolutly nothing for fuel efficiency, and I think it actually makes it a touch worse according to TL, but this said it's marginal. Biodiesel in an excellent idea as most diesel engines can be easily "tweeked" to have them run on 80% traditional diesel, 20% biodiesel with no requirement for new parts equipment etc.. When the cost is low like that it really helps promote a technology.
I don't know how much it is per metric gallon, though.
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Post by Dane on Sept 27, 2005 14:26:07 GMT -8
Just an aside, but biodisels are very loud, for those of you that didn't know.
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Post by Alex on Sept 27, 2005 15:09:13 GMT -8
Once again, I have to argue your points.
First, is it even possible to run an engine entirely on bio-diesel? I haven't researched that, but I'll have a lot. Even if it is possible, I'm quite positive it would take a major re-working of the engine at the least, or most likely a complete engine replacement.
Second, carbon dioxide IS a major pollutant. It's one of the main greenhouse gases that is causing global warming. All the studies and research I've seen recently have all revolved around reducing carbon emissions in order to try to slow/stop global warming.
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Post by Alex on Sept 27, 2005 15:21:27 GMT -8
I stand corrected.
After research, it appears that it does not increase the net carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, since the plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, and the biodiesel combustion just returns it to the air.
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Post by Alex on Sept 27, 2005 15:27:41 GMT -8
Okay, so apparently it can power diesel engines on it's own, without mixing with diesel. However, it is a solvent, so there may be parts of the engine that could degrade or fail from exposure to it. Also, there haven't been many studies on it's long term use, which makes it a bit risky to put in one of our ferries, I think.
Also, I can't find any information about it being more efficient than diesel. As far as I can tell, it's pretty much the same.
The big problem mentioned, though, is that it is more expensive than regular diesel at the moment. However, this is expected to change once the economies of scale come into play.
Perhaps this is something to look in to. However, I believe it needs more study at the moment. I doubt anyone has ever tried to run a large ship engine on 100% bio-diesel before.
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Post by Alex on Sept 27, 2005 15:31:57 GMT -8
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Post by hergfest on Sept 27, 2005 15:44:23 GMT -8
Washington State Ferries was experimenting with Bio-Diesel and they found it was plugging up the fuel filters. As of yet they haven't found a solution to this problem.
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Doug
Voyager
Lurking within...the car deck.
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Doug on Sept 27, 2005 15:58:12 GMT -8
BC Ferries can test it on the retiring ferries. Tsawwassen, Vancouver and Saanich. As time progresses, these problems will be overcome though.
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Doug
Voyager
Lurking within...the car deck.
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Doug on Sept 27, 2005 16:13:08 GMT -8
One other note. Apparently (when I said "better on engines") bio-diesel helps the engines last longer. That will save money in the long-term....
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Doug
Voyager
Lurking within...the car deck.
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Doug on Sept 27, 2005 16:18:46 GMT -8
And perhaps the people who farm (not pump) the base bio-diesel products such as soy beans will be making the big buck in the future....
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Post by Quinsam on Sept 27, 2005 18:24:57 GMT -8
Yes, I think that Biodiesel would be a good thing to run on, but we might need to plant more trees for it to work properley, the surrey would be a good tryout because she has a tree attached to her mast:  |
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Post by Curtis on Sept 27, 2005 18:26:15 GMT -8
That was for Christmas
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Post by Sunshine Breakfast on Jan 6, 2006 9:54:19 GMT -8
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