Helpful Tips On The Incredible History Of Biodiesel Fuel
Dr. Rudolph Diesel was the inventor of the ubiquitous diesel engine, way back in the 1890s. The doctor developed the project as an answer to the basic steam engines that have been around since the auto was first invented. Steam engines were known to be dangerous and could be very unreliable, not like the diesel engine, which was then popular.
The diesel engine was very different to the petrol engine and the diesel worked on the basis of ignition compression. Air is drawn into the engine cylinder and when the piston rises it compresses this air, which automatically ignites, emitting the power. The petrol engine on the other hand uses a spark to ignite a fuel/air mix when the air is compressed, and needs a somewhat complex “backup” system of plugs, coils and leads.
While the first public demonstration of what was essentially the early “bio diesel” engine occurred in 1900, it was to be the 1930s before modern biodiesel fuel was developed through the conversion of vegetable oils into fatty acid methyl esters.
When times were plentiful there was not much interest in biodiesel as an alternative fuel. When petro diesel was readily available and quite cheap, vegetable oil based alternatives were not suitable. As the vegetable oil was subject to a higher viscosity, experimentation resulted in further development and the emergence of what we now know as biodiesel.
A Belgian inventor came up with a process subsequently termed transesterification in 1937, when he converted vegetable oils as a diesel fuel replacement, but it was to be well into the 1980s before this was perfected due to urgent needs associated with energy security and increased efficiency. The process of transesterification was successfully matched at this time, making biodiesel fuel a real alternative to those concerned about the environment.
In the 1990s, biodiesel became very acceptable in Europe, much to do with the very high prices of petro diesel. Biodiesel first went into production in the US in 1996, and during the decade to follow it has become more and more available and the subject of more interest in general.
Our society as a whole has become much more aware of damage caused to our environment through industrial and automotive pollution. While this awareness has been slowly emerging, costs associated with energy production have been rising inexorably. Gasoline prices in the US reached all-time highs within the last few years and this has caused consumers to really sit up and take notice of sustainability. Petro diesel costs more than regular gasoline and either method digs into the typical monthly budget cost, so alternatives that are seen to be better for the environment are becoming more popular.
There are exciting times ahead for biodiesel as we seek to constrain our spending, become more secure and focus on environmental issues. Nowadays, homemade biodiesel is becoming a stepping stone for many as they seek to attain an element of independence and environmental stewardship. It comes down to the simple equation of whether a sustainable fuel solution can be produced at a lesser cost than the readily available alternative, and in this case, biodiesel is most definitely the answer. It’s a real solution, and a way forward.
Tags: 
