An Immediate Fuel Switch That Keeps Developing
In previous times, eco-friendly diesel was perceived as a specialized product that did not capture widespread investor attention. Nowadays, it serves as a cost-effective method for fleet operators to accomplish their objectives by enabling them to transition their entire diesel-powered fleet to an alternative fuel in a short time.
Eco-friendly diesel, a replacement for traditional petroleum diesel, is manufactured from renewable sources like natural fats, vegetable oils, and greases. It has a chemical composition resembling petroleum diesel, but it is completely renewable and sustainable, positioning it as the most eco-conscious diesel available. Eco-friendly diesel easily substitutes petroleum diesel and doesn’t necessitate any modifications to vehicles.
Various techniques can be utilized to produce eco-friendly diesel, including those that handle solid biomass, liquid biomass, waste gasification, and pyrolysis. Each technique has its advantages and obstacles. One challenge involves the preprocessing of the feed, which can be carried out using acid, high-pressure water, and/or adsorbents, based on the chosen technology. Acid and aqueous products pose a significant risk of contaminating the hydrotreating catalyst, and these risks can be mitigated by optional deacidification. The market is continuously innovating and enhancing these preprocessing methods to both prepare the “oil” for hydrotreating and minimize the consequences arising from these emulsion-prone preprocessing processes.
Innovative Preprocessing Techniques
A technology is currently available that employs a mass transfer device using caustic, acid, or water as the treating reagent in liquid hydrocarbon flows. The device is a vertical vessel packed with proprietary fibers that assure non-dispersive-phase contact without facing the challenges associated with conventional dispersive mixing devices, such as aqueous phase carryover, hydrocarbon losses, lack of turndown ability, lengthy settling times, plugging, and flooding. Because the aqueous phase adheres to the fibers rather than dispersing into the hydrocarbon phase, carryover and uncontrollable emulsions are almost eradicated. Preprocessing conducted through this technology significantly enhances the process benefits while diminishing the downstream consequences of carryover from the system. This leads to prolonged life and optimal performance of downstream hydrotreaters.
Any CO2 and H2S within these production processes are typically addressed in a subsequent amine unit. The acid gas from the amine unit, along with light products featuring unacceptable levels of sulfur, can then be treated using a proprietary liquid reduction-oxidation process that changes H2S to elemental sulfur. The outcome is a renewable fuel that can be seamlessly utilized as a substitute for any diesel and biodiesel fuel in the transportation sector. The composition of eco-friendly diesel allows it to ignite with maximum efficiency while decreasing the frequency of filter regenerations and injector maintenance—and because it lacks impurities or aromatics, it’s fragrance-free.
Certain fleet operators can promptly achieve sustainability targets by transitioning their entire diesel-powered fleet to eco-friendly diesel.
Eco-Friendly Diesel Implementation in UPS Fleet Vehicles
In 2015, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), collaborating with United Parcel Service (UPS) and Clean Cities’ National Clean Fleets Partnership, evaluated the fuel efficiency and emissions impact of eco-friendly diesel versus petroleum diesel in fleet vehicles.
To gather practical operational data, NREL outfitted 12 vehicles–six regional tractors and six package-delivery vans–with data recorders. Specific drive cycles were chosen for chassis dynamometer analysis to ascertain the fuel efficiency and emissions impact of eco-friendly versus petroleum diesel in a controlled environment. An assessment of the fuel properties of both eco-friendly diesel and petroleum diesel revealed that the former had lower density than the latter and exhibited a higher calorific value based on mass, yet a lower calorific value based on volume.
The NREL studies confirmed that eco-friendly diesel achieves, on average, a 4.2% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions compared to petroleum diesel, attributed to the higher mass-based heating value and lower carbon-to-hydrogen ratio of eco-friendly diesel. Fuel consumption and efficiency correlated strongly with mass and volume-based heating values, respectively, maintaining the engine’s thermal efficiency unchanged over a given cycle.
UPS presently stands as one of the major adopters of eco-friendly diesel globally.
Environmental Initiatives in Urban Centers
The City of Oakland, CA embraced the shift to eco-friendly diesel as an early advocate. The city migrated its fleets from petroleum diesel to fulfill its sustainability targets with a cost-effective approach. Other municipalities such as San Diego and Long Beach have followed suit.
Beyond California, in November 2023, New York City revealed its intentions to convert all heavy-duty vehicles in its fleets to eco-friendly diesel, encompassing over 12,600 on- and off-road trucks.
These fleets have not encountered operational issues and haven’t required modifications to equipment or refueling infrastructure to adopt the fuel. Eco-friendly diesel, it’s reported, preserves engine cleanliness for longer periods, thereby reducing labor hours and material expenses linked with vehicle and equipment wear.
Final Thoughts
Major fuel producers are increasingly turning their attention to eco-friendly diesel, with some announcing investments to reorient petroleum refineries for eco-friendly diesel fuel production. Reports from the U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center confirm the substantial growth in domestic production and the rise in plants under construction. The Union of Concerned Scientists recognizes the expansion of eco-friendly diesel production capacity in the United States as “a significant development.”( )
Eco-friendly diesel stands as a genuine hydrocarbon capable of lessening reliance on fossil fuels, curbing greenhouse gas emissions, and aiding fleets in meeting their sustainability objectives.
It’s an intelligent, environmentally-sound choice.
The post Technology News: Eco-Friendly Diesel: An Environmentally-Friendly Alternative first appeared on Clean Fleet Report.
