Future projects for the increased use of bio-diesel as blending component in diesel

AGQM joins international bio-fuel consortium 
 
The market introduction of bio-diesel as blending component in diesel fuel is making considerable progress at international scale. The increase of the blending share of bio-diesel from up to 7 (B7) to 10 vol.-% (B10) or more has not only raised eyebrows among car manufacturers who voiced their criticism in this respect. However, apart from bio-ethanol, bio-diesel is the only quantity-relevant fuel alternative, in order to be able to eventually meet the climate protection targets set by the European Union for the transport sector and valid from 2020.
As partner of a research consortium with international reach, the association Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Qualitätsmanagement e.V. (Association Quality Management Biodiesel reg. Ass. - AGQM) takes part in a project which is aimed at measuring, with a special pressure sensor, the impact various bio-diesel/diesel mixtures have on the pressure curve in the cylinder. The measuring data thus gained will be simultaneously transmitted as signal to the engine management, so that the fuel quantity injected and the injection curve can be optimized.
This technology, which has so far been used in markets with fluctuating fuel qualities, will open an opportunity, so the consortium’s expectations, to optimize the use of bio-diesel as blending component in view of the fact that the requirements concerning the engine technology get more and more stringent. The strategy for controlling the engine referred to as „closed loop“ will make it possible to further increase the share of bio-diesel as blending component in diesel fuel. This technology is currently being tested in a car engine.
The AGQM has expressed criticism that bio-diesel has been used as blending component in diesel all over the world in the meantime, while the challenges on the part of the engine or the attempts to find solutions in this field have only been analyzed to a lesser extent.
The consortium itself has been initiated by Ricardo UK Limited, a British company which manages the project and runs a number of engine test benches in Britain and in other European branches. RICARDO will introduce the project as well as other future project modules during the 4th International Conference for bio-diesel manufacturers the AGQM has organized in Berlin on May 31/June 1, 2010.