Biodiesel Use for Parking Heaters - AGQM Project completed successfully

In cooperation with a leading manufacturer of parking heaters for passenger cars and trucks, AGQM could complete a project which demonstrates that Biodiesel can maintain a high quality for a long period of time. The results serve as basis for the continuing development of parking heaters fit for the operation with Biodiesel.

Fuels intended for the operation of parting heaters must be of high quality which must then also be guaranteed for the post-summer time when frost sets in again. For that reason AGQM and a leading manufacturer of parking heater systems carried out a project with which the long-term oxidation stability of Biodiesel (RME) was assessed using different additives and storage conditions. RME was stored under ideal as well as real storage conditions for nine months, blended with four conventional oxidation stabilizers in two concentrations each. Sampling was carried out on a monthly basis and critical parameters like oxidation stability, acid number, peroxide number and water content were determined. The results of the analyses show that the Biodiesel properties are improved significantly due to additivation; however, the influence of the storage conditions is rather small. Thus the prerequisites for Biodiesel as fuel for parking heaters are enhanced.
Among other things, there will now be additional tests to assess the tendency of stored Biodiesel to form deposits during evaporation in realistic test stand runs.