May 6, 2008

Commercial Vehicle Tracking And Its Different Uses

by Hispanic

You may have seen it on television or in films — technology so advanced it can track down automobiles on almost any location. But vehicle tracking is more than just about putting carnappers and other criminals behind bars. This mode of tracking device is also used in other ways such as in businesses processes and security.

A prime example is the shipping industry, considered a pioneer in utilizing a commercial vehicle tracking system. Commercial vehicle tracking locates and collects accurate data. It spot-checks the location of a certain vehicle for commercial or business purposes.

Today, commercial vehicle tracking has expanded to several other smaller-scale industries. Not only is such a system abundant in terms of providers and services, it is also ultimately cost as well as time-efficient for the corporation using the vehicle tracking system.

A good example of a modern-day commercial vehicle tracking application is dispatching of freight vans and other delivery vehicles. By installing a transmitter on a particular freight van, an operator can easily monitor the activity of the freight van as it makes its delivery within the area; stops, detours, drop-offs, etc. are all display on a computer or another remote hardware device.

When freight vans and other deliver vans are dispatched systematically, this may be called a modern-day commercial vehicle tracking application. The operator installs a transmitter on a particular freight van to monitor the activity of the freight van as it makes its delivery within the area. All activities are monitored through a remote hardware device including  stops, detours and drop-off points.

Companies involved in commercial vehicle tracking services also offers other services and packages such as printable reports like speed reports, idling reports, and journey reports, detailed location mapping, route finding among others. Field sales and trailer tracking are other commercial uses of vehicle tracking. For instance, in field sales, vehicle tracking is used to retrieve driving directions and planning last-minute itineraries.

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Making the Clean Fuel: Biodiesel Equipment List

Making the Clean Fuel: Biodiesel Equipment List

by Dark Sith

To use biodiesel as fuel, you need the right equipment to turn plant oils or animal fats into biodiesel. Because of its environment-friendly nature and its usefulness, people are starting to shift to this fuel for use in their homes or their cars.

If a person wants to produce only a small amount of biodiesel, then a simple equipment set can be used. This equipment can be bought individually from retailers. A simpler way to obtain these things is through buying biodiesel kits from dealers. Many of these kits are available online.

Transesterification is the process of purifying animal fats or oils by them it react with alcohol through catalysts such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. Plant oils are the easiest to make biodiesel. A person can use plant oils from corn, rapeseed, palm, sunflower, peanut, soybean or canola. Methoxide is formed by mixing together the catalyst and an alcohol, which can either be ethanol or methanol. When methoxide is mixed with the plant oils for a period of time, esters are obtained. These esters compose biodiesel.

A small amount of biodiesel can be made in a backyard or garage. However, if a person wants to make the fuel at home, he or she should be very careful when handling chemicals that could be dangerous and even fatal. The catalyst sodium hydroxide can severely burn the skin. Methanol is also dangerous and can cause blindness. These substances should be handled very carefully. These chemicals should be placed only in polyethylene, polypropylene, glass or stainless steel containers.

Here are the other tools required to produce biodiesel at home:

A reactor vessel where the chemicals are mixed together

A heater to heat the mixture

A dropper or syringe

Funnels, graduated beakers and scales to accurately weigh the substances

A reactor vessel where the chemicals are mixed together

A stirrer

A stirrer

Water to wash the biodiesel after transesterification.

For larger quantities of biodiesel, a different set of equipment is used. Complete sets of this equipment can be easily purchased over the Internet. Some of these tools are as follows:

A touchless processor, a more complicated type of processor than a manual one.

A manual processor, which is a tank that mixes and heats the substances.

A mechanical mixer, which can use propellers or pumps to mix the substances.

A touchless processor, a more complex type of processor than a manual one.

Almost everything you need to make biodiesel is available on the Web. The production of this renewable fuel is becoming a profitable clean and green business.

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Diesel Vans: A Family Affair

by Dark Sith

Do you have a large family that likes to go on road trips? Is camping or driving through different states or provinces something your family enjoys? If it is, it might be a good decision to invest in a van. Vans are large vehicles that have seating capacities of around ten people. Aside from that, vans also have plenty of space inside them, enough to store all of your family's clothes, pans, and other camping items.

To maximize the money you spend on your van, buy a van that runs on diesel. You can save a lot of money with this type of van because of three things: durability, cost, and fuel economy.

Fuel economy is one of the best features of diesel engines. As a result of their higher density, diesel fuels burns slower compared to gasoline. The main thing about better fuel economy, though, is that you can drive farther using one tank of diesel compared to one tank of gasoline. This is ideal, especially since you will be going on long road trips with your van. Considering how many miles are traveled on such trips, it would save you a lot of money to have an engine that can go farther on one tank.

Cost is another great feature of diesel vans. Generally, diesel fuel costs less than gasoline. In some areas, however, diesel prices are equal or greater than gasoline prices because of factors such as taxes and tariffs for the implementation of high emissions standards.

Lastly, one other feature of vans running on diesel is the fact that diesel engines have a longer life. They are more durable compared to gas engines. This means that you and your family can travel more without having to worry about having any maintenance or changes to your engine. As long as the engine is working, your whole family can keep on traveling.

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Fighting Global Warming: Biodiesel Expansion Around the World

by Dark Sith

The world is experiencing climate change and rising temperatures. Biodiesel is an alternative fuel that can make the Earth a better place to live in. Today, there is increasing expansion in the production, distribution and use of this fuel around the world.

Biodiesel is produced through transesterification, a chemical process where oils and fats in plants and animals are processed into the substances of the fuel. As early as 1853, scientists J. Patrick and E. Duffy had already conducted some kind of transesterification.

In 1900, Rudolf Diesel demonstrated a diesel engine that ran on peanut oil at the World Fair in Paris. However, this peanut oil fuel is not considered biodiesel because it didn't go through transesterification.

Countries, such as the United Kingdom, China, Japan, and France tested and experimented with vegetable oils throughout the 1920s and 1930s. However, they encountered some problems because the viscosity of the oils led to engine deposits.

In 1931, the first biodiesel production was done by G. Chavanne of Belgium. Since then, research and experiments have been counducted to improve the manufacture and use of biodiesel. In the 1990s, European countries began installing biodiesel power plants. By 1998, 21 countries began producing commercial biodiesel products. Today, manufacturers can use several sources to make biodiesel, like animal fats and plant oils from palm, sunflower, peanut, soybean or canola.

In Australia, all metropolitan trains and almost all buses in Adelaide run on 5% biodiesel mixed with petroleum. The South Australian Government plans to move up to 20% biodiesel soon. In Canada, the government has set a goal of producing 500 million liters of the fuel by 2010. In Finland, a local oil company plans to build a production plant with a capacity of 170,000 tons per year.

In 2005, a power plant capable of producing 50 million liters per year opened in Scotland. In Brazil, three commercial biodiesel factories have been producing 45.6 million liters of the fuel per year. In India, the government is encouraging the cultivation of Jatropha plants, the oil of which is used for railway engines. Malaysia has long been developing palm biodiesel as a diesel substitute.

Farmers in the United States use the fuel in tractors and other equipment to raise public awareness. Aside from these countries, Belgium, Costa Rica, Thailand, Singapore, the Czech Republic, Norway and others have also already taken steps to increase their biodiesel production.

National governments around the world are making policies to increase the biodiesel blends that they use to fight global warming. By improving fuel technology, establishing larger biodiesel networks, raising people's awareness and increasing biodiesel use, the Earth may see a better future through this clean and green fuel.

We could fight global warming with (http://www.runningdieselengines.com/Fighting+Global+Warming%3A+Biodiesel+Expansion+Around+the+World.28536.htm) biodiesel expansion, to learn more visit our online guide.

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September 6, 2007

Biodiesel Renewable Fuel Source

Biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources.  It is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics. 

Bio Diesel Renewable Fuel Source

Biodiesel is better for the environment, it is made from renewable resources and has lower emissions compared to petroleum diesel.  In the USA it is made from renewable resources such as soybeans and since its introduction has reduced the US dependence on foreign oil and as well as contributing  to the US economy by creating additional manufacturing jobs.  Biodiesel can be manufactured from algae, vegetable oils, animal fats or recycled restaurant greases and it  it can be produced locally in most countries.

Biodiesel feedstock plants utilize photosynthesis to convert solar energy into chemical energy.  Biodiesel is made through a chemical process called transesterification whereby the glycerin is separated from the fat or vegetable oil.  Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed the health effects testing requirements of the US 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments.

Biodiesel Energy

Biodiesel has about 5–8% less energy density, but better lubricity and more complete combustion can make the output of a diesel engine only 2% less per volume compared to petrodiesel fuel usage.  

Biodiesel Engines

Biodiesel refers to a diesel-equivalent processed fuel derived from biological sources (such as vegetable oils) which can be used in unmodified diesel engine vehicles.  However, the engine components must be specially manufactured or modified to accommodate 100% pure biodiesel.  Biodiesel is defined as mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats which conform to ASTM D6751 specifications for use in diesel engines. Some vehicle manufacturers are positive about the use of biodiesel, citing lower engine wear as one of the fuel's benefits.  In the UK many only maintain their engine warranties for use with maximum 5% biodiesel which is blended in with 95% conventional diesel. This position is generally considered by many to be very cautious.  Peugeot and Citroën are also exceptions to this 5% rule, in that they have both recently announced that their PSA HDi engine can run on 30% biodiesel. 

Blends of 20 percent biodiesel with 80 percent petroleum diesel (B20) can generally be used in unmodified diesel engines. With the introduction of biodiesel in the UK, we will have a renewable fuel source, a reduction in our dependancy on  imported fuel and an oppotunity to  increase  manufacturing jobs.

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September 3, 2007

Peugeot 307 BioFlex


 

The French company Peugeot states that the  E85-powered Peugeot 307 BioFlex will emit about 5 per cent less CO2 than a similarly equipped Peugeot 307 working on a lead-free gas, which will be some 169 g of CO2 per km as opposed to 178 g in the case of gasoline-powered vehicle.  The Peugeot 307 BioFlex is not an ordinary flex-fuel vehicle, it uses the so called SuperEthanol fuel, consisting of 85% agricultural ethanol and 15% of lead-free petrolwhich is "progressively being made available at service stations across  France".

Reduction in CO emmisions

The combustion of E85 fuel emits approximately 5 % less CO2 than that of lead-free petrol, and in the case of the 307 BioFlex working on a combined cycle, this corresponds to 169 g of CO2 per km as opposed to 178 g in the case of petrol.  This enables drivers to run the car only on lead-free petrol if  they want,  in which case the 307 BioFlex  mpg will be equivalent of the 307 equipped with the standard petrol engine, resulting in the 307 BioFlex running on lead-free petrol obtaining  identical results in terms of both performance and fuel consumption, as the standard petrol engine. 

The digital engine control unit specific to 307 BioFlex vehicles manages the fuel supply according to the fuel composition measured by the lambda (EGO) sensor.

Brazil's location in the tropical and subtropical zones of the world ensures intense solar radiation year-round, the basic requirement of bioenergy production. This comparative advantage enables the country to be a leader in the international biofuel market, promoting energy products derived from agroenergy.  Brazil has become the poster boy for ethanol production and with her massive sugar cane plantations have fuelled a wholesale switch from petrol to biofuels, enabling self sufficentecy in motor fuel.

The Peugeot 307 BioFlex emits 5% less CO2 than its petrol counterpart (169g per km instead of 178g / km)  and Peugeot is eager to promote biofuels, there will be no additional cost for the customer to cover the extra outlay for technical adaptation and  the 307 BioFlex models should  be available at the same price as the corresponding petrol versions.

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bioethanol e10 pumps in uk

If you know the location of bioethanol e10 pumps in uk, then please add a comment below.

Ethanol or ethyl alcohol is a clear colourless liquid, biodegradable, low in toxicity and causes very little environmental pollution when burnt.  Ethanol (E100) consumption in an engine is approximately 34% higher than that of gasoline (the energy per volume unit is 34% lower).  Ethanol is typically blended with petrol to form an E10 blend (5%-10% ethanol and 90%-95% gasoline), but it can be used in higher concentrations such as E85 or in its pure form.

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Bioethanol Production

Bioethanol has a number of advantages over conventional fuels.  Bioethanol is also biodegradable and far less toxic that fossil fuels.  Bioethanol fuel is mainly produced by the sugar fermentation process, although it can also be manufactured by the chemical process of reacting ethylene with steam.  Bioethanol has an energy content by volume of 21.  Bioethanol in the UK is set to get big boost as the country's first production plant will soon be operational.

Energy Supply

According to the International Energy Agency, cellulosic ethanol could allow ethanol fuels to play a much bigger role in the future than previously thought.  Dedicated energy crops, such as switchgrass, are also promising cellulose sources that can be produced in many regions of the United States.  Concerns relate to the large amount of arable land required for crops,[4] as well as the energy and pollution balance of the whole cycle of ethanol production.  Production of ethanol from sugarcane (sugarcane requires a tropical climate to grow productively) returns about 8 units of energy for each unit expended compared to corn which only returns about 1.

Petrol vs Bioethanol

Petrol has an energy content by volume of 31.  Petroleum diesel and petrol consist of blends of hundreds of different hydrocarbon chains.  Petroleum derived ethanol (synthetic ethanol) is chemically identical to bio-ethanol and can be differentiated only by radiocarbon dating.  Blends of 90% unleaded petrol and 10% fuel ethanol are commonly referred to as E10.  (2007:) There are only a few gas stations where E85 is sold, which is a 85% ethanol, 15% petrol mix.  China is promoting ethanol-based fuel on a pilot basis in five cities in its central and northeastern region, a move designed to create a new market for its surplus grain and reduce consumption of petroleum.  Another study has suggested that replacement of 100% petroleum fuel with E85 (a fuel mixture comprised of 85% ethanol and 15% petroleum) would significantly increase ozone levels, thereby increasing photochemical smog and aggravating medical problems such as asthma.

Bioethanol is a completely renewable and sustainable alternative fuel source.  Bioethanol is an important renewable energy source and  produces considerably lower emissions on combustion and it only releases the same amount of carbon dioxide as plants bound while growing, which helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is  a readily available, clean fuel additive that is used incombustion engines.  Bioethanol can be used as a fuel in a number of different ways: As a blend (ranging between 5% and 85%).  Bioethanol-blended petrol is similar to ordinary petrol but contains bioethanol.