Recovered veg oil & animal fatRecovered veg oil & animal fat

- energy use options -

Bernard Rice,Bernard Rice,

Crops Research Centre,Crops Research Centre,

Oak Park, CarlowOak Park, Carlow

Materials and use optionsMaterials and use options

• Raw materialsRaw materials

– RVO

– SRM tallow

– “Clean” tallow

• Use optionsUse options– BiodieselBiodiesel– Converted Converted

vehiclesvehicles– HeatingHeating– CHPCHP

1. RVO as biodiesel feedstock1. RVO as biodiesel feedstock

• Much research in Austria and IrelandMuch research in Austria and Ireland

• Commercial uptake in AustriaCommercial uptake in Austria

• Acceptable biodiesel can be produced from Acceptable biodiesel can be produced from RVO with appropriate plantRVO with appropriate plant

• RVO quality concernsRVO quality concerns– Free fatty acids, polymers, saturated fatsFree fatty acids, polymers, saturated fats– Water, solids, oxidation stabilityWater, solids, oxidation stability

Oil types consumed in Ireland and EUOil types consumed in Ireland and EU

Annual ConsumptionAnnual Consumption EU Ireland Mt/yr % kt/tr %

Soya 1.94 11.4 16.3 11.7Sunflower 2.15 12.6 9.3 6.7Rapeseed 2.68 15.8 28.6 20.5Olive 1.70 10.0 1.9 1.4Palm 2.05 12.1 16.1 11.6Tallow & grease 1.36 8.0 10.7 7.7Other 5.16 30.4 56.4 40.5

Total 17.04Total 17.04 100 139.3 100 139.3 100 100

Fatty acid profile of Irish RVOFatty acid profile of Irish RVO

Fatty acid

C16:0

C18:0

C18:1

C18:2

C18:3

RVO

4.7–14.5

1.4 – 5.9

52.9–65.8

15.4–20.7

4.1– 8.8

Rape-seed

6.1

2.3

56.0

24.2

6.5

Composition of RVOComposition of RVO

CountryCountry AustriaAustria IrelandIreland UKUK FranceFrance

FFA (%) 0.78 - 2.64 1.9 - 7.4 2.6- 5.8 <4

Water (%) 0.25 - 2.25 1 - 5 0.3 - 1.8 <1

Sat. FA (%) 8.7 - 16.0 6.6 - 21.4 10.6 - 30.2 29 - 36

Mono (%) 49.2 - 59.8 53.5 - 70.5 48 - 71 45 - 53

Poly (%) 25.7 - 34.0 19.5 - 29.5 18.9 - 28.2 14 - 21

Quality of Biodiesel produced from RVO

Parameter Austria Ireland Min specmean Range

Viscosity @ 40Viscosity @ 40ooCC 5.115.11 4.864.86 4.5- 4.5- 5.15.1 3.5 - 5.0 3.5 - 5.0

CFPP (CFPP (ooC)C) -6-6 -5.3-5.3 0 to 0 to -14-14 0 to -20 0 to -20

Water (ppm) Water (ppm) 300 300 11001100 700-1900700-1900 <300 <300

Oxid. stability (h)Oxid. stability (h) 1.71.7 > 6 > 6

CCR (100%)CCR (100%) 0.0650.065 .044-.044-.104.104 0.05 0.05

ConclusionConclusion

• Acceptable biodiesel can be Acceptable biodiesel can be produced from Irish RVO with produced from Irish RVO with suitable plantsuitable plant

• To justify this plant, scale is vitalTo justify this plant, scale is vital

• Intake quality control neededIntake quality control needed– FFA, polymers, saturated fatsFFA, polymers, saturated fats

2.Recovered veg oil in modified 2.Recovered veg oil in modified enginesengines

• At least one German kit availableAt least one German kit available

• Some experience in IrelandSome experience in Ireland

• Short-term performance OKShort-term performance OK

• More work needed onMore work needed on– oil pre-treatmentoil pre-treatment– oil quality standardoil quality standard

• Not a prospect at presentNot a prospect at present

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 20 40 60 80 100

Temperature (degC)

Vis

cos

ity

(cS

t)

Recovered

Virgin

Diesel

Viscosities of recovered and virgin oilsViscosities of recovered and virgin oils

0

10

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30

40

50

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000

Engine speed (rpm)

Po

we

r (k

W)

Diesel

RVO

Dyna TransporterDyna Transporter

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60

70

80

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000Engine speed (rpm)

Smok

e de

nsity

(har

trid

ge u

nits

)

RVO no load

RVO full load

Diesel full load

Diesel no load

3. RVO for heating and CHP3. RVO for heating and CHP

• OK in big burnersOK in big burners– but unlikely to be preferred usebut unlikely to be preferred use

• Small burners e.g. domesticSmall burners e.g. domestic– problems not yet resolvedproblems not yet resolved

• CHP a possibilityCHP a possibility– AER vs. excise remission - balance criticalAER vs. excise remission - balance critical

4. SRM tallow4. SRM tallow

• Current use - renderers’ boilersCurrent use - renderers’ boilers

• Biodiesel and direct vehicle engine use excludedBiodiesel and direct vehicle engine use excluded

• CHP? Yes, if justified by green electricity priceCHP? Yes, if justified by green electricity price

4. Non-SRM tallow for biodiesel4. Non-SRM tallow for biodiesel

• ProblemsProblems– High saturated fats High saturated fats

• high melting point biodieselhigh melting point biodiesel

– High free fatty acids High free fatty acids • high processing costshigh processing costs

• Plant design and scale the key factorsPlant design and scale the key factors

5. Other fuel uses for non-SRM tallowOther fuel uses for non-SRM tallow

• Direct use in loco enginesDirect use in loco engines– German trials in progressGerman trials in progress– Not a short-term prospectNot a short-term prospect

• HeatingHeating– Large-scale OKLarge-scale OK– Problems with small burnersProblems with small burners

• CHPCHP– Depends on green electricity priceDepends on green electricity price

Fuel uses for oils/fatsFuel uses for oils/fats

Raw materialRaw material ApplicationApplication

RVO Biodiesel

SRM tallow Converted engines

Non-SRM tallow Heating/CHP

Biodiesel and plant scaleBiodiesel and plant scale

• All biodiesel production requires big scaleAll biodiesel production requires big scale– glycerol refining, quality checks, safety with glycerol refining, quality checks, safety with

methanolmethanol

• High FFA feedstocks require more High FFA feedstocks require more elaborate plantelaborate plant– FFA removal or 2-stage esterificationFFA removal or 2-stage esterification

• Minimum capacity? 20kt/yr?Minimum capacity? 20kt/yr?• Needs RVO + tallow (+ rape-seed oil)Needs RVO + tallow (+ rape-seed oil)

ConclusionsConclusions

• Biodiesel: RVO, non-SRM tallow and some

rape-seed oil needed to reach viable production

scale.

• CHP: Would need a better green electricity

price.

• Big boilers: OK for SRM tallow, unlikely to be

competitive for the others.