Penn State University demonstrates B100 in tractors

In principle, biofuels can be produced with virtually no petroleum inputs. Farm equipment - irrigation machines, tractors, harvesting tools - can all be run on biofuels, and production plants can be fuelled by biomass (as is already being done in Brazil, where ethanol plants are powered by bagasse and even produce excess electricity they sell to the grid). The fact is especially important for agricultural regions in oil-importing developing countries that struggle with high oil prices. In an ideal scenario, farmers would produce their own biofuels on-site, and use them to grow food and fuel.

A collaborative demonstration project involving Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences and machinery manufactured by Case New Holland shows it is possible and appears to have ramifications for the makers and users of all types of diesel-powered equipment (earlier post, see also here for biogas powered heavy duty farming equipment; and here on new dedicated machinery being developed for energy crop farming).

For the past year, Penn State has been running two new, unmodified New Holland tractors on B100 biodiesel (fuel made from soybean oil with no petroleum-based component) with no ill effects. After extensive use on Penn State's farm fields, neither of the machines shows any sign of extra wear, according to Glen Cauffman, the university's manager of farm operations and services.

"Thus far, we have experienced no negative effects of B100. The tractors' power, fuel consumption and performance appear equal to that of machines running on petroleum diesel fuel." - Glen Cauffman, Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences

This spring, New Holland added a third, larger tractor to the study. The new model is just now being introduced to customers. It has a 150-horsepower, 'Tier III' engine, which is the newest generation of off-road diesels. The engine is completely computer controlled, providing cleaner exhaust emissions than previous diesels.

Using straight biofuel to power the tractors is the culmination of a process Cauffman and the College of Agricultural Sciences began about five years ago, when Penn State began an aggressive program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on imported oil. At that time, engine manufacturers were not endorsing biodiesel blends greater than B5 (5 percent biodiesel) and threatening to void equipment warranties if that mixture was exceeded:
biofuels :: energy :: sustainability :: biodiesel :: B100 :: agriculture :: farming :: tractor :: autarky ::

Despite the then-premium price and scarce availability of biodiesel fuel, the college's Farm Operations and Services Department began using biodiesel in its 40-plus tractors, trucks and utility vehicles. But if Penn State Cooperative Extension was going to promote the use of higher rates of biodiesel, college experts knew that they had to offer information based on experience.

So Farm Operations began buying 100 percent biodiesel (B100) and "splash-blending" it with petroleum-based diesel fuel at the University Park campus to achieve a blend of B20 (20 percent biodiesel). Following the College of Agricultural Sciences' lead, the university in 2006 converted all of its diesel equipment to B20 biodiesel blend.

Cauffman and his staff decided to stretch the envelope even further, in collaboration with machinery company Case New Holland, by operating the two tractors on B100 biodiesel. Their goal is to learn what owners of diesels can expect when they choose to be independent of petroleum. Penn State Cooperative Extension will disseminate information generated from the demonstration project.

Other research with biofuels is ongoing in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, Cauffman noted. "The Pennsylvania Soybean Board funded projects to analyze the effects of higher blends of biodiesel on engine crankcase lubricant, to develop and evaluate additives to improve cold-weather flow-ability of biodiesel, and to evaluate an alternative biodiesel formulation process.

"The biodiesel team at Penn State is growing 51 plots of various oil-seed crops, which offer alternative fuel-crop opportunities for Pennsylvania farmers," Cauffman adds. "In addition, 12 acres of canola are being grown for processing into biodiesel at the university."

Penn State's role in helping the country transition to green energy is important for both symbolic and practical reasons, points out Cauffman, who was recently honored as a "Biofuels Pioneer" by the environmental group PennFuture. "The university is setting an example for business and industry to follow," he says.

Because biodiesel is made in the United States, it keeps fuel-buying dollars at home, and is environmentally friendly, he explains. When burned in engines, biodiesel produces fewer emissions. Studies indicate that adding vegetable oil to a fuel mixture extends engine life and makes engines run smoother.

"If more businesses, farmers and heating-oil customers used biodiesel, it would improve air quality, reduce oil imports and give Pennsylvania's soybean growers more outlets to sell their product," Cauffman says. "Now all university equipment uses biodiesel, and we expect other businesses in Pennsylvania to make the conversion after Penn State demonstrates the viability."

Image: Farm operations manager Glen Cauffman has led the effort to power the university's agricultural equipment with soybean-based biodiesel fuel. Credit: Penn State Agriculture Magazine.

More information:
Penn State Agriculture Magazine: "Going Greener", Winter/Spring 2007 issue.

Penn State University, College of Agricultural Sciences: Penn State shows running tractors on straight biofuel is (bio)logical - June 7, 2007.