I am in the "fast lube" business, and have searched the web for over 5
years to find a way to use the waste motor oil from my business as
fuel for generating my own electricity. I have not found any
"off-the-shelf" method for doing so. I have not even found any "under
development" techniques for doing this.
I have investigated the following topics "thoroughly", without
success:
1. Diesel (or gasoline?) I/C engines modified to burn 100%
(filtered
and pre-heated) used motor oil. (Not the 5% solutions
which ARE
available).
2. Turbines/jet engines running on used oil. (This can
possible be
done now, but only at very high rates of consumption, and
at very
high noise levels, and with equipment overhaul interval
requirements which are prohibitive.
3. Steam turbine generators using a waste oil-fired boiler. I
have
not found any units small or simple enough for
installation in a
small business urban environment.
A successful solution would have to be able to meet the following
requirements:
1. Unattended operation, except for start-up and periodic
maintenance.
2. Selling price of $30,000 or less.
3. Noise/emissions levels compatible with urban
environments.
4. Size/weight compatible for roof-top installation.
I am not asking you to design a product, just providing limiting
guides so you do not waste time on a $1,000,000 solution covering 1/2
an acre.
The BASIC TECHNOLOGY of converting the waste/used oil to energy is
what I have
not been able to find.
I have repeatedly used the following search terms, again with little
success:
co-generation waste oil used oil crankcase oil diesel fuel
(burner)
heavy oil babington burner sterling engine alternative
fuel(s)
I have a list of sites saved in my IE favorites, but I don't know how
to link/copy them into this question. I will be glad to do so if given
instructions. Most of these relate to waste oil burning space heaters
(which I am also interested in, but which are of much less tehnical
interest compared to the ability to generate electricity). These sites
have been investigated in the hopes of finding a basic burner which
could be incorporated into an energy generating system.
There was a (failed) company called "Black Gold" about 10 years ago
which tried to combine the burner from a commercial waste oil space
heater (I.E. Lanair, Shenandoah, etc.) with the exhaust turbine from a
big truck and having the turbine power an electric generator, but this
idea apparently failed.
I also heard of an artile in Scientific American from the 20's or 30's
regarding testing a tractor using a "vaporizing carb" (Fordson?)
burning 100% used motor oil. I have not seen the article.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
greetings snsh,
This is indeed a difficult search, as the number of articles on
' efficiency of fuel, as dependent on motor oil'
contaminates the results on 'motor oil as fuel'.
To avoid such crosstalk, one has to use advanced
search techniques, such as
://www.google.com/search?q=oil+fuel+-efficient
This eliminates articles dealing with 'efficiency'.
Using such search techniques brings many articles
on Biodiesel which explain how a diesel engine can
run on pre-heated oil or mix. I see that
you have investigated this option and
" not found any units small or simple enough for
installation in a small business urban environment "
Your descriptions of what you have already found
were very useful.
References given in the Biodiesel articles may bring
additional ideas. For example the Vegie-Van
http://www.veggievan.org/
looks small enough, and the cited book describes
" Three methods for running a ... Diesel engine ... on
straight vegetable oil"
http://www.joshuatickell.com/products/publications/index.php
However, your main problem is not finding a suitable engine.
The primary problem with burning unprocessed used motor oil
is environmental:
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/ usedoil/campgn/en-dumpbr.pdf
The used oil is classified as Hazardous Waste and has to be
disposed of in accordance with the EPA regulations (if you reside in
the U.S.). These rules have a solid basis. Used oil contains toxic
chemicals and heavy metals which can escape when burned in an
improvised burner.
Regulations are numerous and look like this:
"April 12, 2002 - Notice - Information Collection
Request for Used Oil - Announces that EPA is soliciting comments on
Used Oil ICR (EPA ICR No. 1286, OMB Control No. 2050-0124, expires
6/30/02) before OMB submission...."
Some others are listed here:
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/usedoil/
It is unlikely that the savings generated at a single oil-change site
would justify the cost and risks associated with the use of
unprocessed used oil. The only practical option is to have the used
oil collected, processed, and used or regenerated at a larger,
industrial-size plant, which can assure compliance with environmental
standards.
Here is some research on motor oil regeneration from Kazachstan:
...Maximum processing rate for the raw material 70000 tons a year
http://www.tech-db.ru/istc/db/pra.nsf/pran/5205
It is a small unit, but the use of radioactive materials is likely to
conflict with U.S. regulations for urban environments.
The answer your question, so far, is negative:
While the energy content is there, the other
considerations make its extraction on a small scale uneconomical.
However, the topic is an important subject of current research. The
US government conducts and supports research into alternative fuels.
Some grants and lots of data are available for small businesses.
Here is an example of a progress report on the regeneration
of motor fuel.
http://www.utpb.edu/pubinfo/OilGasResearch.html
Many of the US information sources are listed here:
http://clearinghouse.ces.utexas.edu/fundoppslnks.htm
Here is an example of a small business grant:
http://www.rgs.uci.edu/research/fundopp/msg00879.html
The possibility of a partnership with a national laboratory could and
should be explored. By tapping into the DOE resources such as
www.netl.doe.gov/publications/factsheets/ program/Prog011.pdf
you will be informed about current research results and possibly
find an opportunity for some cooperative pilot project.
It is a good idea and important project. I wish you luck.
SEARCH TERMS
used .. motor oil, renegeration, purification, resuse
DOE , alt fuels, SBIR
and as explained above
hedgie Energy: conservation, oil, solar, nuclear, electricity, wind, hydrogen ::
(Compressed Natural Gas) or methane with gasoline for motor vehicle fuel: Both caloric content of the fuel used to generate electricity is waste heat rejected
http://www.rationallink.org/energy.htmHOME |
I tried your search term "oil+fuel+-effecient" and got over 1,500,000
hits. After looking at several of the pages of links, the only
reference to a specific engine was one to the "veggie-van", which runs
on cooking oil, not used motor oil. Thus I removed "vegetable" from
the search term, and still got over 1,400,000 hits, none on the first
few pages of links referring to my specific question: used oil as fuel
for engines/turbines/boilers or any other which permit electricity
generation.
I am very familiar with EPA regs concerning used oil, and there are
exemptions in place, or extensible, which could probably cover this
application. First things first, however: a specific technology
addressing the question.
This is my first use of GA, and possibly my expectations are too high,
but I do not feel like there was one specific reference to "using used
motor oil as a fuel to generate electricity."
I would be interested ij any follow up to these comments.
best regards
www.netl.doe.gov/publications/factsheets/ program/Prog011.pdf
I tried the above link, and got a message that I did not have the
appropriate permission to use this info. Could you please explain, and
tell me how to get to this stuff?
best regards
Request for Clarification 2:
There are two problems with the link
www.netl.doe.gov/publications/factsheets/
1) It got truncated when extra link was inserted during formatting
2) The server is now down, probably a temporary outage
The first problem can be corrected easily; the complete link is
http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/factsheets/program/Prog011.pdf
The second problem may require that you try several times in the next
few days.
Request for Clarification 1:
As I understand your request, there were two problems with results of
my search
1) I did not know that you were familiar with EPA regulations
and so I devoted large portion of the allotted time to that aspect.
2) The results of the search were negative.
As I indicated, both from my experience and from my search I doubt
that there is an existing technology which would be practical
on a small scale. I recommended that you tap ongoing federally
sponsored research and provided links to appropriate
DOE office. That apparently was not what you hoped for.
I will withdraw the answer so that another resercher can provide
the answer if you want that.
Alternatively, I can make another search to locate useful links.
Now I have a better picture of what you know and are after.
You have better idea of what you can get for a given price.
Therefore, second round may be more satisfactory.
However, results are unlikely to pinpoint a ready-made
solution - a burner you can buy for 'less then $30k'.
They may provide links to the current research on the topic.
I would recommend that
1) you simplify the question to 'how to use motor oil as fuel'.
How to generate electricity is a secondary, easier question, once you
have an engine which runs on oil.
2) you do not focus on labels such as 'vegetable' vs 'motor' oil,
but concentrate on what physical and chemical properties are
required for oil to be usable as an engine fuel.
The book I mentioned
http://www.joshuatickell.com/products/publications/index.php
seems to discuss those properties, properties of oils in general.
The origin of oil, labels vegetable, soy , .. are not essential, the
properties of the oil or mix are.
You mentioned that 5% mix soultion is known and that you would
like a 100% solution. Is anything in between of interest?
Please let me know whether you want me do a new search with
this emphasis or whether you want my answer withdrawn.
Best regards,
Hedgie The Northeast Heating Fuel Market: Assessment and Option - 3. Consumer ::
segment, where it is used as motor fuel in farm and construction equipment. of the oil used for electricity generation is residual fuel oil rather than
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/servicerpt/nehfuel/chp3.htmlHOME |
Technology Review: High-Efficiency Generators for Hybrid Vehicles::
Free-piston engines could be used to generate electricity as efficiently as, and less expensively than, fuel cells. <br water pumps, oil, or transmissions.
http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/21442HOME |
I want to add clarifaction to your:
"First things first, however:
a specific technology addressing the question"
Technology which can achieve your goal is
'oil burning steam power plant' . Steam engine has
less stringent fuel requirements then internal combustion engine.
Since you can burn motor oil (for heating) you can generate
steam. Therefore you can run a steam turbine which drives
electric generator.
It is clearly possible in principle. the question is,
is economical and practical? The environmental regulations
and size of plant are essential. Any kWh produced in a
smaller plant costs more. Produced in the city, even more.
Environment:
You will be
"Used Oil Burner for Energy Recovery"
http://www.bceitalia.com/
and will have to register with state EPA ..
... This administrative regulation establishes standards for used oil
burners who burn
off-specification used oil for energy recovery. Section 1 ..".
www.lrc.state.ky.us/kar/401/044/060.htm
I assume you know all that for your state.
You can buy an assembled automatized plant from Cusson
www.cusson.co.uk
Cost is not given. It depends on power produced and options.
The power capacity, .75 kW to 20kW, for a small plant,
is the main parameter you need to choose
before you talk to manufacturers.
It will depend on the amount of oil you will burn.
In US, I did not find a supplier who has capabilities of Cusson,
but looking at site and talking to steam interest group may be helpful:
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/goebel43.html
Following ABSTRACT OF THE MASTER'S THESIS may be useful:
... The processes investigated here are:
small-scale steam power plant, biomass
gasifying diesel, pyrolysis oil diesel, wood-fired gas turbine
(PGI system ...
www.sll.fi/mpe/di/abstract.html
Looking at links for energy recovery from biomass is useful
for this reason:
If they can make electricity from chicken manure or tobaco dust...
using a steam power plant, it may be possible for you to use motor oil
for the same purpose. Boiler is different, rest is quite similar.
Used equipment can be bought at:
http://energy.sourceguides.com/businesses/byP/steam/byB/wholesale/supplier.shtml
and new at
http://www.epcenergy.com/spilling.html
and
http://www.apctt.org/database/to5001.html
In conclusion, burning motor oil to produce eletricity is possible
but has many problems, such as:
The operation of oil-fired power plants also impacts water, land use
and solid waste disposal. Similar to the operations of other
conventional steam technologies, oil-fired conventional steam plants
require large amounts of water for steam and cooling, and can
negatively impact local water resources and aquatic habitats. Sludges
and oil residues that are not consumed during combustion became a solid
waste burden and contain toxic and hazardous wastes.
http://www.powerscorecard.org/tech_detail.cfm?resource_id=8
It is much easier for researcher to find good answer if the
client is able and willing to interact in developing the query,
neverthless, I hope this second round is more specific and
satsifactory answer to your original query.
Hedgie
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USED MOTOR OIL AS FUEL FOR GENERATING ELECTRICITY