Vegetable oils and animal fats for diesel fuels: a systems study

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · ASAE Publ.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6104907

Lipinsky, E S; Kresovich, S; Wagner, C K; Appelbaum, H R; McClure, T A; Otis, J L; Trayser, D A

This paper provided some information on the possible use of vegetable oils and animal fats as substitute fuels and as emergency diesel fuels in the United States. This paper is confined to using triglyceride fuels in agricultural, automotive, and highway transportation applications. Satisfactory substitution of petroleum-based diesel fuels with triglyceride-based fuels requires the development of an integrated system for the production, processing, and end use of the new fuels on a basis that is both technically attractive and economically rewarding to all of the elements of the system. The three subsystems, the farms that produce oilseed crops, the production of triglycerides and protein, and the manufacturers of the diesel engines and the owners of the present stock of auto-ignition engines, are discussed. It was concluded that vegetable oils and animal fats have substantial prospects as long-term substitutes for diesel fuels. If special auto-ignition engines were developed to handle vegetable oils, on-farm production and use might succeed. In the absence of such engine development, it is likely that large, centralized facilities to manufacture vegetable oils and their methylesters will be the successful processing route. Vegetable oils are likely to succeed first in geographical areas with benign climates. Vegetable oils and animal fats have limited prospects as diesel fuels for acute emergencies. The high viscosity of vegetable oils and the necessity to make substantial capital investments to obtain oils from oilseeds render the system relatively inflexible. 4 tables. (DP)

• Research Organization: Battelle Columbus Labs., OH
• OSTI ID: 6104907
• Report Number(s): CONF-820860-
• Journal Information: ASAE Publ.; (United States), Journal Name: ASAE Publ.; (United States); ISSN ASPUD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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DIESEL FUELS
ECONOMICS
ESTERS
FATS
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
LIPIDS
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PROCESSING
PRODUCTION
TRIGLYCERIDES
VEGETABLE OILS
VISCOSITY