Objective:

Increasingly stringent regulations for the emission of particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and sulfur oxides (SOx) from on-road vehicles, power generating units, stationary boilers, and other diesel engine sources are being enacted at both the federal and local levels. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a report linking diesel exhaust to lung cancer and other respiratory ailments. Although diesels are the most efficient of internal combustion engines and have favorable characteristics in other environmental areas, these recent developments will undoubtedly lead to increased restrictions on diesel exhaust emissions. Consequently, the Department of Defense (DoD) must determine how it will meet this new challenge. One solution is the development of cost-effective alternative fuels, such as biodiesels, to reduce diesel engine emissions.

Technology Description:

Biodiesel is a nontoxic, biodegradable fuel made from organic fats and oils that serves as a replacement, substitute, and enhancer for petroleum diesel. Biodiesel may be blended with petroleum diesel in all existing diesel engines with little or no modification to the engines, and certain blends have been shown to substantially reduce CO, HC and PM pollutants and improve engine performance.
Biodiesel emissions testing will be performed on approximately eight diesel-powered vehicles and two stationary diesel-powered generators operated by DoD. Emissions from a variety of biodiesel fuels, including yellow-grease-based biodiesel (YGB-BD), will be determined and compared to a baseline diesel fuel. Testing will be performed in accordance with EPA testing standards and duty cycles. The tests will be conducted at laboratories and in the field. In addition to the emissions testing, chemical analysis of biodiesel fuels and PM samples will be performed along with analysis of hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions.

Expected Benefits:

The use of YGB-BD in DoD diesels will result in a number of benefits, including reduced overall DoD air emissions of PM, CO, HAPs, and HCs; reduced DoD petroleum consumption and lower carbon dioxide emissions; reduced DoD cost for Alternatively Fueled Vehicles; and availability of emissions factors for YGB-BD fueled engines of interest to DoD. This project will obtain the biodiesel emissions data necessary for DoD decision makers to intelligently plan future implementations. Biodiesel air emissions data will be provided to the Defense Logistics Agency and other organizations that control specifications for DoD fuel purchases. (Anticipated Project Completion - 2006)

Contact:

Mr. Bruce Holden
Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center
1100 23rd Avenue, Code ESC 421
Port Hueneme, CA 93043-4370
Telephone: (805) 982-6050
Fax: (805) 982-1409
E-mail: holdenbb@nfesc.navy.mil