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FAQ - Frequently
Asked Questions
About Bio-power Seminars
More
recently asked questions from our mailbox
Every
time you burn mineral diesel you contribute to global warming, and add toxic
wastes to the environment. By changing to a bio-fuel you will help to reduce
the increase in atmospheric carbon-dioxide levels, and you will not be adding
any toxic materials or heavy metals to the environment. In our view the
most beneficial form of bio-fuel is Bio-power MUVO.
The
production of bio-fuels will take land away from growing food that is needed to
feed those in poorer nations
Certainly the rush by many big companies to get into the emerging new sector of
bio-fuel production is being criticised by many environmental groups because of
the damage being done to prepare land for palm oil production. Large areas of tropical rainforest in East
Asia and Africa have been felled to provide new palm oil plantations. Once land is used to grow palm oil it
is very difficult to revert back to other forms of agriculture or to revert to
tropical rainforest. However, the
major component of bio-power fuels is used oil that we collect form pubs,
restaurants and canteens close to the area where we process the oil to make
fuel, which is then sold locally to meet local needs. We do not import vegetable oil for fuel making, and we do
not ship large quantities of vegetable oil around the globe. We try to find sustainable methods
where ever we can.
YES, nearly all compression ignition engines will burn BIO-DIESEL without any
modification. However, rubber parts in the fuel delivery system may
dissolve because FAME Bio-diesel is a very active solvent. Bio-diesel can also
remove the protective coatings used in fuel tanks which then block fuel
filters.
All
diesel engines will also burn Bio-power MWVF without any modification, but the
fuel runs especially well in larger engines, indirect injection engines, and
engines with turbos. Mercedes, VW, Renault and Peugeot engines work very
well on Bio-power MWVF. Most engines will run even better on MWVF if they
are fitted with our simple
heat exchanger to the fuel delivery system, and this also seems to
improve performance.
Some
engines will also burn SVO without modification (like Mercedes and
Volvo), but normally a heat exchanger and / or dual fuel system is needed.
Can
I burn bio-fuels in a petrol engine?
NO,
our current range of bio-fuels are not suitable for use in spark ignition
engines and will damage the engine, but we know that we can make a fuel that
will run in petrol engines.
Ethanol is an alternative fuel for petrol engines, and factories are now
being developed to produce ethanol in the UK, which will be blended with
mineral petrol, initially at 5%.
Are
bio-fuels dangerous?
NO,
bio-fuel presents a lower fire risk than normal mineral diesel, and is about as
safe as ordinary vegetable oil. Try lighting it with a match! All bio-fuels
will only explode when heated and injected into highly compressed air. Spilled
fat will dissolve into the ground like salad dressing.
Will
using bio-fuel cause any damage my engine?
NO, you should find that it burns just the same as ordinary diesel, but it
makes a nicer exhaust smell, and the engine may seem to run more smoothly with
a grunt rather than a rattle. Bio-diesel made as FAME is a very strong
solvent and may cause damage to rubber parts in the engine or the fuel delivery
system, and it can also cause blockage of fuel filters because it strips the
paint or varnish from the insides of fuel tanks. SVO and MUVO do not have
these problems.
Can
I mix bio-fuels with ordinary mineral diesel?
YES, the two types of fuel are absolutely inter-mixable, and can be burned together.
Most people mix bio-fuel with mineral diesel when they start using
bio-fuels. We recommend the mixing bio-fuels with ULSD during very cold
conditions.
Do
I need to alter the engine in any way?
FAME bio-diesel can be used in just the same way as ordinary mineral diesel,
but care must be taken to prevent contact with rubber parts. MUVO can be
used in most engines without modification, but a heat exchanger improves
performance. SVO is a specialist fuel for those who are prepared to fit a
new fuel delivery system.
Will
bio-fuels be more expensive than normal mineral diesel?
At present the cost of collecting the fat, and processing it, plus the Excise
Duty makes it difficult to produce BIO-DIESEL made as a Fatty Acid Methyl Ester
that is competitive with mineral diesel. However, our fuel is normally between
10p and 15p per litre cheaper than ULSD in the UK. This price includes
the VAT and Duty.
Can
I buy bio-fuels on a regular basis?
We hope that you will be encouraged to make a permanent commitment to the use
of non-polluting fuels. Many organisations like the National Trust have already
made a commitment to the use of non-polluting fuels. Our aim is to manufacture
a range of organic fuels on a commercial scale that we can deliver to our customer’s
homes. Most Bio-power agents will sell fuel in 15 litre or 20 litre returnable
plastic containers, and can also deliver to customer’s storage tanks in
quantities of 200 litres to 1,000 litres by pumped delivery.
Will
burning renewable vegetable fuels provide any improvement in my engine's
performance?
The tests we have so far carried out have not been conducted to any scientific
standard. But we do notice significant improvement in performance.
The improvement is greater in some engines than others suggesting there
is a need for more research. I suspect that the increased upper cylinder
lubrication will give the impression of better performance. It seems also
that engines perform better when well warmed up - i.e. after about 10 to 15 minutes
driving. On a long drive I get the feeling the engine wants to 'fly' and
one keeps lifting the accelerator pedal and there is no reduction in speed.
Bio-fuels also seem to provide more torque at lower revs, and so you tend
to change up the gears faster, and you do not need to change down so much when
you meet a hill.
I
have plenty of waste vegetable oil which I have to pay to dispose of. Can you
collect it?
YES, we will collect good quality oil from any restaurant, chip shop, or hotel
in the UK. If you have oil available then contact your nearest Bio-power Local Agent.
We can provide clean 20 litre sealed tubs for you to keep the fat until
it can be collected. We do not charge for the collection, but neither do we pay
for it. We may pay up to 15p per litre for larger quantities of good
quality fat, subject to contract.
Can
I burn the vegetable oil I use to cook with as a fuel?
The government in the UK has now accepted that everyone can made 2,500 litres of
bio-fuel for their own use without any need to register to pay the Excise
Duty. This is very similar to the
dispensation provided to enable people to make their own wine or beer. Many people are now using our basic
method to meet their own fuel needs.
We do not recommend that home brew fuel makers buy supermarket veg oil,
as this is highly selected material that is processed to be of food
quality. This processing serves no
purpose if the oil is then used as a fuel. We therefore suggest that you find a good supply of local
used vegetable oil. We find that
food led pubs are the best source of clear runny oil. The best oil is rapeseed oil, and it should look like good
beer, i.e. clear and runny and a light amber to light brown colour. Oil that is opaque or is black and
bitter smelling is not suitable.
The
use of straight unprocessed fat as a fuel does have some complications. Diesel engines can be converted to burn
unprocessed fat and waste vegetable oils, and we can provide further
information about kits for most engines.
You will need to be good at adapting the basic kit to your vehicle. It
is therefore a task for the enthusiast.
Our
Bio-power MUVO is a compromise between the use of SVO but without the problems
associated with Bio-diesel. It is
evident that the British Government does not want to support or encourage the
use of SVO as a fuel and it is difficult to insure a vehicle that has been
modified to run on SVO.
It
is also possible to make your own fuel using our method by following the steps
set out in this web site.
NO, the government is keen to encourage the use of non-pollution fuels, so long
as the relevant Excise Duties are paid. Duty is included in the charge for our
fuels which is 20 p less than the rate charged on Derv. In Germany, Italy
and Poland there is no Duty on our form of bio-fuel. As stated above
there is now provision to allow people to make their own bio-fuel without
paying Excise Duty.
The
forms required to register for the payment of duty are published in the download section of this
web site, together with guidance on how to register to pay the tax on your own home
made bio-fuel.
NO, Excise Duty is only charged on fuel used for transport purposes. We do not
charge duty on fuel sold to bona-fide users of red diesel for non-transport
use. The quality of the fuel is exactly the same. However, technically
there is no provision yet in place for a marked or tax rebated form of a
bio-fuel in UK.
Tell the police that you are using bio-fuel, and show them a receipt provided
by BIO-POWER with each consignment of fuel. Give them our address and ‘phone
number. North Wales Police are aware of our work in providing alternative forms
of fuel for vehicular use. Car stickers are available explaining that you are
using a new form of fuel. Don't be ashamed to be using bio-fuels to
protect the future of the planet.
The
cost of kerosene has increased at a faster rate than the cost of petrol and
mineral diesel because it does not carry the same rate of tax. Any increase in the basic price of
crude oil is therefore reflected directly in the retail price. It is very likely that the cost of
kerosene will continue to increase dramatically.
There
are basically two types of kerosene burner used in most domestic heating installations,
the drip feed system, and the fan assisted jet burner. If you heating goes off when there is a
power cut then you probably have a fan assisted system, and if the heating
stays on when there is a power cut then you probably have a drip feed system. Vegetable oil cannot be used directly
in the drip feed system, because it will soon clog up the evaporation channels
with unburned long hydrocarbon chains.
But it is possible to replace the burner with a vege oil burner. I do heat our whole house and provide
the hot water using a very simple home made drip feed system, which consists of
two frying pans, one larger than the other, so the smaller one is placed inside
the larger one. The gap between
them is maintained by a block of steel about 20 mm thick. I simply pour the veg oil (all our
rubbish oil) from a pyrex jug into the top frying pan. It is lit with a briquette or wax based
firelighter or small pieces of cardboard and paper, dipped in veg oil. Once the oil is well lit it is simply a
matter of refilling the top frying pan every twenty minutes or so. The bottom frying pan is there as a
safety measure to capture any spillage from the top one and allow it to burn
without setting the house on fire.
Likewise
veg oil can be used in fan assisted systems, but it is necessary to replace the
burner head or adapt the burner significantly.
It
is necessary to use a high pressure fuel delivery pump to provide the necessary
backpressure to the fuel line. I have
found the high pressure pump made by Dunphy of Rochdale to work well.
I
make a special fuel delivery pipe from the boiler to the fuel tank that has a
25mm copper pipe for the oil feed, which is inside a wider plastic pipe to
carry water from the boiler to the fuel tank. I separate the two pipes with a winding of fencing wire like
a spring. This keeps the two pipe
concentric, and also ensures the hot water maintains maximum heat loss to the
central copper pipe so the fuel gets hotter and hotter as it gets closer to the
boiler.
I
then convert the boiler by fitting a super heating coil of 8mm thick gage pipe
inside the burning chamber. I find
two and a half turns to be sufficient.
The pipe is then formed into another heating coil outside the burning
chamber, formed around a 25 broom handle.
The pipe must be filled with oil or water under pressure to make a clean
coil without any crimping. This
pipe then leads very hot or vaporised fuel to the burner head.
The
final part of the conversion is to identify the electric circuit that is
operated by the thermostat. This
type of burner normally operates until the water is hot enough and then it
closes down. When the water gets
too cool the burner is relit and drives until the water is hot again. However, vege fuels will not want to be
re-lit. It is therefore necessary
to swap between a full blast and pilot mode. The burner will say alight when in the pilot mode. This is achieved by inserting a
suitable rheostat into the motor circuit on the off mode, so the fan motor
remains running but the flame is smaller.
This rheostat is adjusted until the flame laps the coil sufficiently to
transmit most of the heat to vaporising the fuel. The system is started by heating the external coil with a
gas torch for 15 minutes or more so there is a good flow of vaporised fuel
coming from the burner jet. The
system is then switched on and the spark should light the flame. You may need to keep heating the coil
until the flame provide sufficient heat to maintain continuous burning. The coil will have to be positioned
carefully to achieve this. I find
about 15 to 20mm above the flame is generally sufficient. When the water is up to temperature and
the boiler switches to pilot mode it is necessary to adjust the rheostat to
maintain the right amount of air flow to the jet. The flame will lift as the jet is slower and thus more heat
is transferred to the coil.
When
everything is working well I seal the aperture into the boiler with fire
cement.
Bio-power can also provide new German made burner heads that are designed to run on veg oil fuels. Further information is available.
Yes, but it is not a project we recommend unless you are very committed, and can source your own fuel supply. Palm oil obtained from traditional Fish & Chip shops is the best form of fuel for home heating. Further information is available.
How
can I get more involved with Bio-power network?
The first step is to get on our
mailing list as a supporter
or an ordinary member.
You will then receive Bio-power
News - our regular magazine in pdf format. The next stage is to come on
one of our Introductory
Seminars, which are held at least once every month. This provides
a thorough background to the workings of the Bio-power Network, the techniques
we use, and an overall view of all the regulations that must be followed if you
are to set up to make fuel on a commercial scale.
Having
attended a Seminar it is possible to access to the Bio-power members web site
and to our technical resources. You will be able to attend our regular
meetings of the Maker's Forum, that are convened about every three months, and
also Regional Cell meetings in your locality and meet other people who are
supporters, members or developing fuel makers.
You
may then be invited to apply for full
membership of the company,
which will enable you to gain access to the Members web site, and technical
meetings on a wide range of subjects that are open only to full members.
We normally run the Introductory Seminars at least once every month. The
first is on the second full weekend in each calendar month. The second is
held two weeks later if there is sufficient demand and we do not have other
meetings or technical workshops that weekend. We aim to have between 6
and 10 people attending each Seminar. However, because of illness I have
been unable to run many seminars over the last three years and we now have a
considerable backlog. The best
thing is to get on our pre-seminar mailing list and you will then receive news
as soon as the program is started again.
Yes, we encourage you to bring as
many eyes and ears as you can, and every extra person is charged at a reduced
rate. The same rate applies if anyone re-attends the Seminar, which a
number of people have done and found doubly beneficial!
When people express an interest in attending a Seminar we put their details on
a rolling list called the pre Seminar list. Details of the venue of each Seminar
is then sent to everyone on that list about 2 weeks prior to each Seminar, with
a booking form. Bookings are accepted on the return of a copy of the
booking form with a deposit. The deposit is not returnable in the event
that the person does not attend.
The seminar fee is kept as low as it can be for the quality of the service we
wish to provide. We only make any profit if there are more than 8 people
attending. However, the fee is not meant to become a barrier to
participation in Bio-power. We therefore keep a rolling fund to help
support people who otherwise would not be able to attend the seminar, and this
is prioritised to people from overseas. If there are genuine reasons why
you can't afford the fee, then let us know before you place a booking.
Not immediately. You must first be accepted into the Bio-power Makers
Community, and if there are other people setting up in your geographical area
then we seek to achieve the best use of resources by helping people to work
co-operatively. Decisions about the inclusion of new agents in a region
are decided by all those affected at a Regional Cell meeting. People becoming a local agent must meet
the criteria we set in terms of the quality of the fuel produced, the method
used, and the way the company is presented.
August 2001, January 2002, October 2002, December 2003, April 2004, May 2006