Possibilities of palm oil biodiesel and mixtures with ACPM in Colombia
Publicación:
Revista Palmas; Vol. 28 Núm. especial, (2007); 63-72
0121-2923
Revista Palmas; Vol. 28 Núm. especial, (2007); 63-72
0121-2923
Abstract
Fossil fuels have been the main energy source worldwide for over hundred years due to their abundance and versatility for their use. These fuels have significantly contributed in the near past with high levels of emissions of greenhouse-effect gases and to the formation of acid rain, thus being one of the main causes of contamination in large cities. However, the world-wide petroleum reserves are arriving at their maximum point, and in the last years have not been new findings. This along with the fact that the supply and the demand of petroleum are close to balance and that, in addition, this fuel has become a geopolitically strategic resource, high increase in prices of petroleum the fuels obtained from it has occurred. Due to the above, in last few years the search for alternative fuel sources has been stimulated worldwide. One of the possibilities is the use of biomass as raw material for the production of biofuels which are renewable, biodegradable and represent a reduction in emissions of toxic and greenhouse effect gases. One of the raw materials used the most as alternative fuels is biodiesel (methyl ester) obtained from vegetable oils and animal fats, which can be used as diesel fuels. The international experience indicates that rapeseed biodiesel is being used mainly in Europe, but experiences are also known with sunflower oil, soybean oil and palm oil. Colombia is not the exception to this tendency and in the past few years the use of biofuels derived from plant or animal sources has been promoted, expecting that they would contribute to the energetic self sufficiency of the country as well as to decreasing contamination in the urban communities and to the generation of labor demand in the rural sector. The Instituto Colombiano del Petróleo and Cenipalma carried out a research project with the objective of determining the characteristics of palm biodiesel made in Colombia and its mixtures with diesel fuel at 2 percent, 5 percent, 10 percent, 20 percent and 30 percent concentrations. The effects of those fuels on vehicles and on engines operated at three atmospheric pressures. The results of this study allow the following conclusions: Palm biodiesel and its mixtures with diesel fuel fulfill the quality specifications established nationally and internationally. Palm biodiesel mixed with diesel fuel improves the properties of cetane number, lubrication and due to the dilution effect decreases the contaminating effect of diesel fuel associated with sulphur and aromatic compounds. It has been found through short trials with vehicles that palm biodiesel and its mixtures with diesel fuel do not significantly affect the behavior of engines and vehicles. Palm biodiesel has a positive environmental effect because it reduces the emissions of particulate matter and carbon dioxide. Increases in nitrogen oxides were not observed. Los combustibles fósiles han sido la principal fuente energética mundial por más de cien años gracias a su abundancia y la versatilidad de su uso. Estos combustibles han contribuido de forma significativa en los últimos años a generar los altos niveles de emisiones de gases efecto invernadero y la formación de lluvia ácida, y hoy en día es una de las principales causas de contaminación de las grandes ciudades. Sin embargo, las reservas a nivel mundial de esta fuente de energía están llegando a su punto máximo, previéndose un descenso gradual en las reservas. Esto unido al hecho de que la oferta y la demanda de este energético están muy equilibradas y que se ha convertido en un recurso geopolíticamente estratégico ha generado un fuerte incremento en los precios de este energético y los combustibles obtenidos a partir de él. Es así como en los últimos años a nivel mundial se ha impulsado la búsqueda de fuentes alternativas de combustibles, una de las posibilidades es el uso de la biomasa como materia prima para la producción de biocombustibles, los cuales son renovables, biodegradables y además disminuyen las emisiones de gases tóxicos y de efecto invernadero. Una de las materias primas más utilizadas como combustibles alternativos, es el biodiesel (metil éster) derivado de aceites vegetales y grasas animales, los cuales pueden ser utilizados como combustibles diesel. La experiencia internacional indica que en la actualidad se está utilizando el biodiesel de colza principalmente en Europa, pero también se conocen experiencias con aceite de girasol, aceite de soya y aceite de palma. Colombia no es ajena a esta tendencia mundial, es así como en los últimos años en el país se ha impulsado el uso de biocombustibles derivados de fuentes vegetales y/o animales, los cuales contribuirán a mantener la autosuficiencia energética, disminuir la contaminación en los Centros urbanos y generar empleo en el sector agrícola del país. El Instituto Colombiano de Petróleo y Cenipalma realizó un proyecto de investigación con el fin de establecer las características del biodiesel de palma y las mezclas con combustible diesel al 2 por ciento, 5 por ciento, 10 por ciento, 20 por ciento y 30 por ciento, así como determinar el efecto de estos combustibles en el motor a tres presiones atmosféricas y en vehículos. Los resultados obtenidos de este estudio permiten concluir que: El biodiesel de palma y las mezclas de combustible diesel cumplen con las especificaciones de calidad establecidas a nivel nacional e internacional. El biodiesel de palma en mezcla con el diesel mejora las propiedades de número de cetano, lubricidad y por efecto de dilución disminuye la concentración de azufre y aromáticos del combustible diesel. En pruebas cortas en vehículos, se encontró que el biodiesel de palma y las mezclas con combustible diesel, NO afecta significativamente el desempeño de los motores y vehículos. El biodiesel de palma tiene un efecto positivo al medio ambiente, ya que reduce las emisiones de Material Particulado y Dióxido de carbono. En el caso de los óxidos de nitrógeno no se evidencian incremento de este tipo de compuestos.
Fossil fuels have been the main energy source worldwide for over hundred years due to their abundance and versatility for their use. These fuels have significantly contributed in the near past with high levels of emissions of greenhouse-effect gases and to the formation of acid rain, thus being one of the main causes of contamination in large cities. However, the world-wide petroleum reserves are arriving at their maximum point, and in the last years have not been new findings. This along with the fact that the supply and the demand of petroleum are close to balance and that, in addition, this fuel has become a geopolitically strategic resource, high increase in prices of petroleum the fuels obtained from it has occurred. Due to the above, in last few years the search for alternative fuel sources has been stimulated worldwide. One of the possibilities is the use of biomass as raw material for the production of biofuels which are renewable, biodegradable and represent a reduction in emissions of toxic and greenhouse effect gases. One of the raw materials used the most as alternative fuels is biodiesel (methyl ester) obtained from vegetable oils and animal fats, which can be used as diesel fuels. The international experience indicates that rapeseed biodiesel is being used mainly in Europe, but experiences are also known with sunflower oil, soybean oil and palm oil. Colombia is not the exception to this tendency and in the past few years the use of biofuels derived from plant or animal sources has been promoted, expecting that they would contribute to the energetic self sufficiency of the country as well as to decreasing contamination in the urban communities and to the generation of labor demand in the rural sector. The Instituto Colombiano del Petróleo and Cenipalma carried out a research project with the objective of determining the characteristics of palm biodiesel made in Colombia and its mixtures with diesel fuel at 2 percent, 5 percent, 10 percent, 20 percent and 30 percent concentrations. The effects of those fuels on vehicles and on engines operated at three atmospheric pressures. The results of this study allow the following conclusions: Palm biodiesel and its mixtures with diesel fuel fulfill the quality specifications established nationally and internationally. Palm biodiesel mixed with diesel fuel improves the properties of cetane number, lubrication and due to the dilution effect decreases the contaminating effect of diesel fuel associated with sulphur and aromatic compounds. It has been found through short trials with vehicles that palm biodiesel and its mixtures with diesel fuel do not significantly affect the behavior of engines and vehicles. Palm biodiesel has a positive environmental effect because it reduces the emissions of particulate matter and carbon dioxide. Increases in nitrogen oxides were not observed.
Palabras clave:
aceite de palma
biocarburante de palma
combustible diesel
Colombia
biodiésel
aceite de palma
biocarburante de palma
combustible diesel
Colombia
biodiésel