FAQ’s
Made your own biodiesel before? Just getting started and knowing where to turn to for answers and help is not always easy. However, when you choose an Enertec™ Fuels product or service, you can rest assured that our machinery exceeds safety and industry standards, has been thoroughly tested, whilst providing all the help you need.
We have designed practical features including advanced process automation, which enables our customers to save money and feel the satisfaction of making their own fuel with products that are affordable.
We also provide extensive fuel production training as well as Health & Safety training at our head office, which covers the use and safe handling of chemicals used, as well as a detailed manual. Each processor is delivered with its own safety kit to help maintain safe control of the chemicals used.
What is biodiesel?
The history of biodiesel?
Is it easy to make?
What do I need to make biodiesel?
How much will it cost to make?
What makes an Enertec™ Fuels Biostation™ unique?
How much fuel can a Biostation™ produce per day?
How long does the process take?
Can I see a demonstration of the Biostation™?
How do I book on the next Fuel Production Training course?
Where can I get my oil and chemicals from and do I need a license?
Does biodiesel make your vehicle smell like a chip shop?
Is biodiesel legal, safe to make and use?
What about taxation of biofuels?
Will my vehicle/fuel system need modifying & will it affect my warranty?
Can I use biodiesel in the winter & mix with regular diesel?
How is biodiesel rated?
Can I run my vehicle on 100% biodiesel?
Do the chemicals damage fuel system parts?
Can biodiesel cause blockages to a fuel system?
Fuel Refinement – Wet and dry washing?
Fuel Refinement – Drying fuel?
How do I dispose of the by-product – glycerin?
What is biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a clean, carbon neutral sustainable & renewable biofuel that is changing the way we think about transport, pollution and the environment. Biodiesel is made from either waste cooking oil or by growing non food chain based oil crops via a process called transesterification. Biodiesel is used in diesel – cars, vans, tractors, boats, trains, trucks, diggers, generators, ships, space heaters, boilers etc.
The history of biodiesel?
1853 – First experiments conducted in the transesterification of vegetable oil.
1893 – Rudolf Diesel invents the diesel engine and runs it for the first time, powered by peanut oil, not strictly biodiesel as it has not undergone the transesterification process. He states : “The use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may seem insignificant today but such oils may become, in the course of time, as important as petroleum and the coal-tar products of the present time.”
1920 – The manufacturers of diesel engines change them to take advantage of the less viscous petro-diesel which is much cheaper to produce, more profitable, and results in the decline in interest in biofuels.
1983 – The process for refining fuel-quality, engine-tested biodiesel is completed and published.
1989 – Gaskoks an Austrian company builds the first industrial scale biodiesel plant.
1990’s – Production facilities are set up in Europe, and in France biodiesel is mixed into regular diesel and used in public transport fleets.
2005 – Minnesota becomes the first US state to mandate that all diesel fuel must contain biodiesel.
2007 – UK legislation under the RTFO mandates that all fossil diesel must include a biodiesel content, 5% in 2009 increasing to 10% from 2010 and each year thereafter currently.
Is it easy to make?
Making your own biodiesel is no more difficult than brewing beer with a Biostation™. Incorporate a Biostation™ with our comprehensive step-by-step training, easy read full operating instructions, FREE personal protection equipment, technical support via our telephone helpline or online and you have the recipe to produce quality fuel. We are here to support registered customers at every step of the production process and to ensure that the fuel you make is of a consistently high standard.
What do I need to make biodiesel?
Firstly, an efficient processor with ALL the features and equipment required to produce high quality fuel, training, titration testing kit and chemicals. Enertec™ Fuels provides you with everything you need to make high quality biodiesel.
We also supply additional storage tanks & containers both domestic and commercial production, pumps and other ancillary items or services that you may need.
How much will it cost to make?
Costs depend on where you source your cooking oil from. You can collect used cooking oil yourself for free, enabling you to produce biodiesel with your Biostation™ from as little as 15 pence per litre. This includes the costs of electricity and chemicals – methanol & sodium/potassium hydroxide (which Enertec™ Fuels can supply). These low costs will enable you to recoup your investment in a Biostation™ very quickly.
If collecting oil is not an option, we can supply your used cooking oil (de-watered, and filtered).
What makes an Enertec™ Fuels Biostation™ unique?
Unlike other machines, a Biostation™ comes with process automation via our EFPC™101 as standard (extra cost on Biostation 1, 2 & 4 models) and ALL the components you need to produce high quality biodiesel, is affordable without the need to buy additional items as extras.
Enertec™ Fuels Biostations™ are built to last and tested with great attention to safety. We have designed our market leading machinery to overcome the many usability/safety issues faced, include features not available on other machines, such as :-
- Fully enclosed & bunded system
- High grade chemically resistant powder coated steel reaction tank
- In built – spill tray
- Wash & drying system
- Automated intelligent digital process control -EFPC™101
- Enhanced safety and security features
- CE & ATEX rated equipment
- Fuel dispensing nozzle & cradle
- Machine (not manual) load oil and chemicals
- Process observation window
- Stage-by-stage instruction manual
- Training
- Technical support
Key features in more detail…
Safe chemical reacting
When the chemicals (methoxide) are introduced to the oil, an instant exothermic reaction (where heat is created) occurs. Enertec Fuels™ processors use a methoxoil mix arrangement to blend the methoxide (methanol & sodium/potassium hydroxide) to the oil via separate containers precisely, avoiding excessive heat being genertaed in the reaction tank. By employing a mix arrangement opposed to pouring neat chemicals in to the reactor, having no direct heat in the reaction tank, the risk of having an undiluted flammable mixture in the tank is minimised.
Heating Protection
All of our processors/reactors are made from high grade chemically resistant powder coated steel, use thermostatically controlled/digitally monitored (so you know exactly what temperature your batch is at) heaters, which preheat the input oil before reaction and not when adding the flammable chemicals. Less safe products on the market use heaters without enhanced monitoring and/or overheat protection within plastic tanks which can be dangerous.
Spill Protection
All our systems are fully bunded (protected with an outer skin) and incorporate a sump to contain liquids in the event of a spill.
Security/Safety
As our Biostations™ are fully bunded, they enable you as the user to lock your machine and avoid tampering. In addition, provide secure storage and safety of your equipment and fuel. Due to this feature, you are able to use a Biostation™ in home use, commercial and remote applications due to their superior design.
Process Control - EFPC™101
The use of compliant equipment, visual LCD enhanced temperature monitoring and process automation via our unique EFPC™101 give you a live and step-by-step visual guide at every stage of the fuel production process. These features help you produce consistently high quality fuel safely.
How much fuel can a Biostation™ produce per day?
Our processors produce fuel in line or in excess of their model designation (dependent on oil quality) AND our reactors also allow for waste within their volume sizing. This is an important factor when choosing a company to buy a processor from as a large number of manufactures use standard off the shelf reactors that do not produce the quoted amount of fuel and/or do not allow for waste.
As an example, our Biostation EFBS1 will produce 100 + litres of fuel per batch per day, our EFBS20 will produce 2,000 + litres of fuel per batch per day.
How long does the process take?
With water wash systems, the process will typically take 24 hours to produce high quality biodiesel for a batch based system, significantly less for a continuous batch system, providing you have followed the correct procedures.
An Enertec™ Fuels Biostation™ can enable you to shorten the process time compared to other machines due to it’s superior design, enhanced and unique features (see under ‘What makes an Enertec™ Fuels Biostation™ unique?).
With both systems the actual hands on time is only 3-4 hours, again providing you have followed the correct procedures.
Can I see a demonstration of the Biostation™?
Call our Head Office on 08450 177588 for availability. Alternatively, visit our training page on the website or download and e-mail back our Biostation™ Demonstration Form to info@enertecfuels.co.uk.
How do I book on the next Fuel Production training course?
Call our Head Office on 08450 177588 for availability. Alternatively, visit our training page on the website or download and e-mail back our Fuel Production Training form to info@enertecfuels.co.uk.
Where can I get my oil and chemicals from and do I need a license?
Oil can be collected from your local restaurants including Chinese or Indian, hotels, chip shops, care homes or any sector that uses vegetable oil in their business. Any such organisations are happy to give you their waste vegetable oil as they typically have to pay to dispose of it. Enertec™ Fuels can advise you in this area.
We understand and believe that the Environment Agency does not regulate producing biodiesel by the transesterification process, providing it is; for your own personal use, not collected or used for commercial activity/production and is not collected to profit from. We also believe this applies to collective small-scale production by a group of individuals if for their own personal use. In these situations therefore, you do not require a licence.
Further advice is available from the Environment Agency direct on 08708 506 506 or via their website: www.environment-agency.gov.uk
If you are an Enertec™ Fuels customer, you can buy your oil and chemicals from us direct on 08450 177588.
Does biodiesel make your vehicle smell like a chip shop?
No, this is a common misconception as bio-diesel has no smell when used. This misconception has arisen where people have used virgin vegetable oil as a fuel straight into their vehicle’s fuel tank, equipped with a pre-heater. As well as the smell, this causes gumming of injectors and engine blockage. It is therefore not cost-effective due to this, the cost of virgin oil and as a pre-heater conversion only enables use of a single vehicle, where as biodiesel can save you money in any number of diesel vehicles, without the need for engine modification.
Is biodiesel legal, safe to make and use?
Yes. Under UK government legislation (RTFO – Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation 2007), the use of biodiesel is actively encouraged. The RTFO obliges fuel producers to include biodiesel in their fuel at 10% from the start of 2010, increasing each year thereafter.
Biodiesel is biodegradable, non-toxic and is safer to store and use than fossil diesel. It has a flash point (temperature at which it is ignitable in air) of 160°C, compared to 85°C with fossil diesel.
What about taxation of biofuels?
Since 2007, rules allow personal users in the UK to make 2500 litres of biodiesel duty free per year without the need to register with HM Revenue & Customs (2500 litres is enough to run two average family cars for a year).
If you produce above this limit/are a commercial fuel producer, you will need to register with Customs and Excise and pay duty on the fuel you produce where applicable. Details on criteria, rates, exemptions and guidance can be found at http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk within HMRC Notice 179E. We strongly recommend that you keep appropriate records and do not attempt to bypass this regulation in any way.
Further details and advice regarding your application can be found on the HMRC website www.hmrc.gov.uk, via their helpline – 0845 010 9000 or online at intenquiries@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
Will my vehicle/fuel system need modifying & will it affect my warranty?
Biodiesel works well in any diesel engine with little or no modifications required to the fuel system. In fact when you fill up at a garage in the UK, you will already have had bio diesel in your vehicle as most if not all filling stations include 5%-10%> biodiesel in line with the RTFO (see above under ‘Is biodiesel legal to make and use?’).
Using biodiesel can extend your engine’s life over fossil diesel because it leaves virtually no carbon deposits, therefore reducing friction and engine wear.
As biodiesel is a fuel, the only parts affected under a vehicles warranty are the fuel – tank, lines, filter, pump and injectors. Assuming a vehicle is within it’s warranty period, the use of biodiesel will vary according to the manufacturer and most will be able to provide you with documentation regarding it’s use.
Can I use biodiesel in the winter & mix with regular diesel?
Yes. You can mix bio – diesel with fossil diesel in any blend. As bio diesel has a higher gelling point than fossil diesel in really cold winter months (at -10C to -15C or above) a mix with conventional diesel is advisable, as it can include a winter additive. Alternatively Enertec™ Fuels can supply a range of additives.
How is biodiesel rated?
Biodiesel is given a B rating according to the percentage of biodiesel in the fuel blend. 100% biodiesel would be rated as a B100, and a 10% blend would be a B10. In most UK filling stations, you will typically be buying diesel with a B5 or B10 biodiesel content, which is currently increasing each year.
Can I run my vehicle on 100% biodiesel?
You can use biodiesel at blends of up to 100% (B100) in any diesel vehicle without affecting its performance, providing you have followed Enertec™ Fuels correct procedures and process – our EFPC™101 process automation controller provides superior support in this area. The fuels performance and quality is only as high as the production process itself. We therefore make it crystal clear to our customers, the importance of using the correct oils, correct and safe testing of oils, chemicals, and fuel.
Issues can arise, regardless of blend levels if the relevant testing of oil and fuel is either carried out incorrectly or not done at all. Our detailed step-by-step manual, electronic automation option and correct industry procedures will help you ensure that this doesn’t occur.
Do the chemicals damage fuel system parts?
Biodiesel is known for having slightly higher solvent properties than diesel from a garage and has a cleansing effect on engines that have previously run on fossil diesel. Natural rubber components such as seals/gaskets can be damaged by bio diesel, so we do not recommend its use in vehicles that were manufactured prior to 1994-95. After which time, manufacturers have switched from rubber to synthetic compounds, which do not suffer such issues.
Can biodiesel cause blockages to a fuel system?
When you first use biodiesel and due to the fuels cleansing properties, carbon deposits from fossil diesel that have built up over time in your vehicles fuel tank and lines are removed and deposited through the fuel filter. This can lead to the fuel filter becoming clogged with carbon if too high a blend of biodiesel is initially used. We therefore recommended that you run on a 50% biodiesel 50% fossil diesel blend to start and change the fuel filter within 1,000 miles to ensure this does not occur. Once the fuel filter is changed, Enertec™ Fuels customers can run on 100% bioidiesel and continue to maintain the manufacturer’s normal servicing procedures.
Regardless of whether you use fossil diesel from a garage or biodiesel, you can come across batches of poorer quality fuel, which can cause blockages. Fuel quality issues are governed by the rigorousness of the production process and tend to become apparent first of all via your fuel filter before issues with pumps or injectors arise. This is why it is essential you have a professional machine, services and advice that helps you produce superior quality fuel, the reason why people prefer to choose a Biostation™ over any other and avoid these unnecessary problems.
Fuel Refinement – Wet and dry washing?
Enertec™ Fuels Biostations™ employ an integrated water wet washing system as standard due to its historic and cost effective use within the biofuels industry. Given this, we train all our customers based on the wet washing principle. We also supply dry washing (typically ion exchange resin) systems, which can be integrated into your Biostation™.
Dry washing can be perceived as the preferred choice for washing opposed to wet washing and is more commonly used by commercial fuel producers because of the potential time saving in the production process. In short, both wet and dry washing have their own benefits and should be considered based on your individual requirements. Enertec™ Fuels can help advise you in this area.
Fuel Refinement – Drying fuel?
All our Biostations™ have an integrated aeration system to aid full and comprehensive drying of your fuel. Where a dry wash system is used, both the washing and drying form part of the same fuel purification process.
How do I dispose of the by-product – glycerin?
Glycerin is produced as a by-product of the fuel production process at a rate of up to 20% per volume of oil per batch. It is commonly used in the biomass industry and composted, should be stored in sealed containers (which we can supply) and can be taken away by companies who refine and sell this waste product as a key component in the commercial cleaning, beauty products and pharmaceutical industries. Under no circumstances should it be burned, as it gives off toxic gases.