Breaking Bad Fuel: Biodiesel as an alternative energy source

Our Plan is to collect used cooking oil from local dining halls and restaurants to convert into clean burning biodiesel for CDTA buses in Troy.

We need change because…

The combustion of fossil fuels like diesel causes harmful emissions that have been proven to be responsible for climate change. The pollution of cities due to emissions can also be directly attributed to raising cancer and other disease rates.

How biodiesel can help

Biodiesel can lower emissions significantly.This chart compares the emission reduction that can be achieved using different biofuel blends.

The solutionSwitch to...

Diesel engines can run on B20 fuel without any modifications making it simple to switch over to the cleaner fuel.

Chemical Process to make diesel

Collect used Cooking OIl

Acquiring Cooking Oil

Cooking oil can be acquired from RPI, Russell Sage, and HVCC dining halls and from local restaurants in Troy. Oil is stored in large drums outside of the dining hall or restaurant.

Heat up oil and mix with Methanol

Converting Cooking Oil to Biodiesel

Triglycerides in cooking oil mix with methanol at high temperatures to make methyl esters (biodiesel) and glycerin. Potassium hydroxide is used as a catalyst for the reaction.

Collect Biodiesel/ Glycerin Products

Collecting and Storing Products

Try to convert as much of the reactants as possible to methyl esters and reduce amount of glycerin produced. Collect products in large drum containers.

Reactor Parts

● Water heater ● Multiple oil drums● Water pump● Flexible PVC hose● T-Joints ● Couplings● Male connectors ● ¾” pipes (x3

Possible locations

On campus: In cooperation with the chemistry department, the reactor could be used for experimental purposes.

CDTA refueling site: Transportation effort could be minimized.

No need to blend the biodiesel with diesel at reactor!How to blend the biodiesel with diesel at the CDTA terminal:

1. Add normal diesel first.

2. Add correct ratio of B100 biodiesel (1:5) to diesel at high velocity.

3. Keep biodiesel 10 degrees fahrenheit above cloud point.

4. Solution will mix sufficiently by itself.

Transporting the fuel

Bikes will be used to transport the oil from the dining halls to either of the possible locations.

The start up stage will have volunteers transporting the fuel - ourselves and students using the reactor for experimental purposes.

As the project grows there is potential for hiring transporters and purchasing delivery bikes.

Advertisement on Buses

- convince restaurants to participate in the project

- raise awareness of carbon dioxide emissions

Plan of action

InvestmentFind people willing to invest in biodiesel in order to build the reactor and purchase delivery bikes.

Contact CDTATo discuss the project and get them on board

Contact Dining Halls and RestaurantsTo discuss collecting excess oil and the process of doing so

Start UpAfter we have the reactor up and running and the collection of oil we will start our trial run on the 289 route

Cost Analysis: Investment

This table shows the products we need to purchase before production could start.

We consider funding from the following sources:- RPI or CDTA- Grants (e.g. NYS health foundation’s

special project grant, National Science Foundation’s Energy for Sustainability grant)

- Loans

Product Price ($)

Reactor 1,139

E-bike 549

Bike trailer 99

Bus advertisement 2,500

Sum 4,287

Assuming a reaction yield of 97%, the cost would be $0.44 per gallon.

If we sell it for between $2.93 (diesel market price) and $3.55 (biodiesel market price), an investment of $4,500 could be payed after producing 1,447 and 1,807 gallons of diesel (less than a year of operation).

Cost Analysis: Production

Production of 25 gal biodiesel

Price per unit ($)

Amount needed

Net price ($)

Vegetable oil 0 26.4 gal 0

Methanol 1.05 5.28 gal 5.54

KOH 3.50 1.4 lbs 4.9

Energy 0.10 7.5 kWh 0.75

Sum 11.19

Similar projects underway

Many colleges successfully use diesel made of cooking oils from their dining halls to power maintenance equipment on campus. some examples are:

- University of Kansas

- State University of New York

- Dickinson College (Carlisle, PA)

ReferencesBus advertisement: The Smell of Success, NBC news http://www.nbcnews.com/business/energy/smell-success-meet-poop-powered-bus-n299096Troy Image: Troy NY DJ, http://www.thedjservice.com/blog/troy-ny-dj/Polluted city: Metro UK, http://metro.co.uk/2014/04/03/smog-warning-record-levels-of-pollution-continue-to-plague-uk-4687183/Duquense Energy Initiative, http://www.duqlawblogs.org/energy/2015/04/19/biodiesel/What every biodiesel user needs to know, John Deere, https://www.deere.com/en_US/industry/engines_and_drivetrain/learn_more/biodiesel/what_every_biodeisel_user_needs_to_know/every_biodiesel_user.page

Sinclair Community College Student Activities https://www.sinclair.edu/academics/sme/energy/stuatv/Methanex.org: regional methanol prices http://www.afdc.energy.gov/uploads/publication/alternative_fuel_price_report_july_2015.pdfPower2switch: Albany Electricity Rates https://power2switch.com/NY/Albany/Rick Da Tech: Catalyst for Biodiesel, make-biodiesel.org http://www.make-biodiesel.org/Ingredients/catalysts-for-biodiesel.htmlJ. Encinar: Transesterification of vegetables oil in subcritical methanol conditions, Extremadura University http://comum.rcaap.pt/bitstream/10400.26/1296/1/Transesterification%20of%20vegetables%20oil%20in%20subcritical%20methanol%20conditions%5b1%5d.pdf

U.S. Department of Energy: Alternative Fuel Price Report http://www.afdc.energy.gov/uploads/publication/alternative_fuel_price_report_july_2015.pdfThomas Clifford: Design of a containerised biodiesel production plant, The Sea Fish Industry Authority http://www.seafish.org/media/publications/containerised_batch_production_plant.pdfElectric Bike Report http://electricbikereport.com/truck-replaced-b-line-delivery-by-electric-trike-in-portland-oregon-video/E-Bike: http://www.letskopen.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=Alpine-TrailsBike Trailer: http://www.rakuten.com/prod/aosom-wanderer-bicycle-cargo-luggage-trailer-black/231935075.html?listingId=356674486&sclid=pla_google_Wayfair&adid=29963&rmatt=tsid:1012713%7ccid:247411609%7cagid:14868890329%7ctid:aud-63219930917:kwd-118464107089%7ccrid:60879544129%7cnw:g%7crnd:3986636865932457360%7cdvc:c%7cadp:1o1&gclid=Cj0KEQiA4eqyBRDUh7Omv9vCtsoBEiQAspfs8u3W1s91zRwYsMQ4Lzh3vBEAHIcNulu_6N7z-Wg6zf0aAhmG8P8HAQ