01-02-2013, 12:23 PM
Incorporating Lessons on Biodiesel into the Science Classroom
1Incorporating Lessons.ppt (Size: 738 KB / Downloads: 283)
Overview
Biodiesel Background & Advantages
Making Biodiesel, Glycerin Separation, washing issues
Chemistry of the process
Demo: Canola Oil
Biodiesel properties (double bond location, viscosity, Cetane number, cloud point)
Biodiesel Challenges (Gelling, additives,..)
Possible Lesson Plans: Energy efficiency, Vehicle comparison
What is Biodiesel?
Alternative fuel for diesel engines
Made from vegetable oil or animal fat
Meets health effect testing (CAA)
Lower emissions, High flash point (>300F), Safer
Biodegradable, Essentially non-toxic.
Chemically, biodiesel molecules are mono-alkyl esters produced usually from triglyceride esters
Biodiesel can be used in existing Diesel Engines
Pure Biodiesel (B100) or blended with petroleum diesel (B20, BXX).
Rudolf Diesel: peanut oil.
Little or no engine modifications
Use existing fuel distribution network.
Available now
Summary
Alternative fuels and energy sources are an issue of increasing importance - not only among the scientific and engineering community, but also in economics and public policy. Alternatives need to be compared on scientific and economic terms - which is not done well in the media.
Alternative fuels and energy sources provide an excellent opportunity to introducing a variety of science topics, and increasing student interest in those topics. Science and engineering fields are increasingly disciplinary - lessons on biodiesel can demonstrate that clearly, by showing the overlapping of biology, chemistry, and physics in studying this and other alternative fuels. It can also demonstrate to students that science is not independent of economics, and advancements in science can yield considerable benefit to the general public (i.e. shifting from petroleum fuels to domestically produced biofuels would create millions of jobs, improve our economy, reduce pollution enormously, and eliminate a key strategic concern for all countries - the dependence on foreign fuels).