Fantastic Tips On The Exceptional History Of Biodiesel Fuel
Dr. Rudolf Diesel invented the well known diesel engine, in the 1890s. The engine’s development was basically an answer to the rudimentary steam engines that had been in existence since the auto-mobile emerged. The steam engines were inefficient and could be dangerous, and the diesel engine was lauded for its reliability as an alternative.
Unlike the petrol engine that was to gain wider acceptance, the diesel engine operates on the basis of compression – ignition. Air enters into the engine cylinder and is compressed when the piston rises, igniting the mixture and emitting 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.
Transesterification, the process of converting vegetable oils and making them available as a diesel fuel replacement was initially mooted by a Belgian inventor back in 1937, but it was not perfected until the 1980s, when complex socio-economic factors combined to draw our attention towards efficiency and energy security. The process of transesterification was successfully matched at this time, making biodiesel fuel a real alternative to those concerned about the environment.
Biodiesel first gained widespread acceptance in Europe in the 1990s, due to much higher prices of petro diesel. Biodiesel was first produced in 1996 in the United States and since that time has grown to be more widely available and become the subject of much speculation.
We now know how much damage we have caused to our environment through gas emission, industrial and automotive pollution. As we are becoming more aware, energy production costs have been shooting upward. When gas prices reached the peaks in the United States recently, consumers really became aware of sustainability and the need to become more efficient. 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.
The history of biodiesel seems set for an exciting chapter ahead as we focus more on energy security, environmental issues and balancing our budgets. 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.
