Bio-Fuels Myth Or Reality

The United States is currently in an uproar over the price of automotive fuel. Industry insiders are projecting the average cost of fuel to go above $3.00 per/gal. in the coming months. Many people are starting to reconsider summer vacation plans. So what solution do we have on the horizon to fight the ever increasing cost of Gasoline.

Today's latest term of indearment is Bio-Fuel. What could this actually be, are we going to place corn-cobs in our fuel tanks. Do we simply pull up to the local Fast Food restaurant and order a #3 and 10 gals of grease. Well not exactly, let's discuss each of the alternatives currently in the mass media vernacular:

First up the french fry grease myth. Yes with the properly equipped fast food restaurant we could drive up and fill up our diesel car. However one big issue with this fast food fad, their isn't enough grease generated to supply the nations thirst for fuel. If we are going to convert over then we must have the supply to meet the demand or the price of the fuel will not be reduced to a usable level. While the technology is available the fuel supply opportunity is not readily available. This technology is commonly referred to Bio-Diesel.

So let's take a step back tot he farmers who generate the oil that we are discussing. Can we generate enough Bio-Diesel to feed the nations thirst? This question is hotly debated in academic circles as well as farming circles. Current estimates are that if we convert over at the fuel consumption rate we are currently utilizing that we will have to have 75% of all of our US farm capacity to meet demand. While this will put many of the farmers currently out of work back to work, we would then be dependent on other nations for our food supplies. This may or may not be palatable to most involved.

What other options are currently on the blocks. E85 and M85 are both standard unleaded alternatives. The E in E85 stands for Ethanol, it is a product of corn and can easily be manufactured by todays farmers. The M in M85 stands for Methanol, which is a product of landfills and biodegradables (grass clippings, and other items). The 85 in the title is representative of the % of Methane or Ethanol present in the fuel. Are these options viable, again we have the debate of supply versus demand. To convert over enough farm land to make these a reality will probably cause food supply issues. The final issue against E85 and M85 is that they have a 25% reduction in fuel mileage adding to the cost of operation of your vehicle if you use them.

Current replacement fuels do not make the cut for long term viability. The auto industry is hard after alternatives to middle eastern automotive fuels. They are listening to their customers and will create a solution. So don't run out and buy that Bio fuel vehicle just yet the industry is still maturing.

Charles Cater

About the Author

Charles has a Problem Solving BlackBelt from Daimler Chrysler. He has spend 11 years in the automotive industry. This article may be reprinted freely as long as all links remain active. http://www.technologyblog.biz http://www.bridalblog.infohttp://www.TheWebLlama.com http://www.HealthyDietMagazine.comhttp://www.Travelblogger.info

Read More...

Car Fuel And Fuel Cells

Fuel tanks corrode and debris accumulates inside over the years, this can clog the fuel filter much faster than on newer cars. Fuel cells are up to 80% efficient. They will get two or three times more energy out of hydrogen, than will a modified car engine.

Fuel System Icing Inhibitors (Anti-icing additives) reduce the freezing point of water precipitated from jet fuels due to cooling at high altitudes and prevent the formation of ice crystals which restrict the flow of fuel to the engine. This type of additive does not affect the freezing point of the fuel itself.

Fuel cells are a promising means of producing energy in the future. Some fuel cells, such as this one, do not consume fossil fuels and therefore are considered environmentally friendly. Fuel cell recharge time is short. Recharging a fuel cell only requires squirting in more fuel or putting in a new fuel cartridge.

Fuel pressure - manifold pressure will give you the pressure differential used to calculate injector flow for a given injector. This will through off any car, but will render this project COMPLETELY useless on forced induction car. Fuel includes gas, coal, oil, nuclear, wood, and other materials.

As one kilogram of these materials produces a different amount of energy, more useful comparisons can be drawn by comparing power. Fuel Cell 2008 is the fifth annual conference designed for organizations interested in learning more about and applying fuel cell technology. The conference provides an interactive forum for OEMs, designers, engineers and integrators to discuss the latest advancements in the industry.

Fuel Safes on-going commitment to quality and service is number one. Our on-going research and development is constantly discovering new and improved ways to make our products stronger, lighter and safer.

Fuel costs were up 20% for Southwest in the first quarter whereas American said its fuel costs were up nearly 50%, which wiped out profit for the nation's largest airline. On average, Southwest paid about $1.98 for a gallon while American, which hedged about 27% of its fuel use, paid $2.74 a gallon.

Fuel pumps can get hot before they die. Porsche recommends using Chevron fuel injector cleaner with Techron as a preventative maintenance on the fuel system; this will help keep the fuel injection components from clogging up, and keep them lubricated. Fuel had already laid down the instrumental tracks for their fourth album and soon started auditioning singers so the band could move forward.

The single shot up to the Top 10 download list on iTunes and stayed there for a number of days. Fuels such as turpentine, alcohol, aniline, and ammonia use nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide, and liquid oxygen as oxidizers. More power can be obtained by oxidizing hydrazine, diborane, or hydrogen with oxygen, ozone, or fluorine.

Fuel cells do get hot though, so the water comes out of the fuel cells as water vapor, or steam. Fuel use of Class 8 trucks, at 18 billion gallons per year, far exceeds that of commercial trucks in any other weight class. Class 6 and Class 2b use the next largest amount of fuel, but both are well under 4 billion gallons per year.

Fuel have also enlisted ex-Godsmack drummer Tommy Stewart, who had previously filled in for a handful of live shows after former drummer Kevin Miller left. Their first album was out around the same time as the first Godsmack record.

Fuel cells operate silently, so they reduce noise pollution as well as air pollution and the waste heat from a fuel cell can be used to provide hot water or space heating for a home or office.

Read More...

High Oil Prices Mean Invest in Coal-To-Liquid Technology (CTL)

Who in their right mind would consider a Coal-To-Liquid Technology(CTL) investment when we have plenty of oil supplies? You should. Because we dont.
Yes, oil prices are high . But crude production has peaked. Output in all major fields is fixed, or is declining. New oil fields are smaller and harder to get at, and extraction techniques are getting more difficult and expensive. Energy demand around the world is rocketting. Oil prices are rising steeply. Increasing political unrest means uncertain supplies and the markets hate uncertainty.
That suggests oil substitute fuels like liquid coal will be needed soon. The other 'obvious' oil substitutes-liquid natural gas oil sands, biofuels, fuel cells, renewable sources and nuclear power can't meet total demand at a reasonable cost for the next decade at least.
What is likely to be the solution? Large supplies of coal. Combined with a long-used proven technology which can convert coal into a clean pumpable liquid with low burnoff emissions- CTL. Both are now readily available at competitive costs.
There are vast available coal deposits in the USA, China, India ,Canada, and Australia, allowing enough liquid coal for scores, maybe hundreds of years, even if demand accelerates.
Note that the Middle East has declining oil and virtually no coal.

Once oil prices rise above $35 a barrel, coal-to-liquid technology providing liquid coal at $20-$30/barrel begins looking very attractive as an oil alternative. Presently oil prices remain above $60, show no sign of descending and could peak at $100-$150 a barrel - IF available from anywhere. This would potentially lead to gasoline at $8/gallon at US pumps and widespread recession.
Other technologies such as coal gasification and gas-to-liquids (GTL) are currently cheaper than coal liquefaction and so some companies afraid of a downturn in oil prices and seeking the best current investment returns may be tempted by those instead.
However China and the US-now the two major powerhouses of world industry-are likely to opt for liquid coal on the basis of huge cheap domestic supplies and the incentive of non reliance of volatile outside markets.

China is an fast awaking industrial giant. They need vast amounts of energy badly for electricity for factories homes and schools, have little oil but lots of coal. Trouble is, the coal is in the north, and industrial developments in the south, China is huge and the roads and railways are presently poor.
It's hard to transport solid coal then burn it and create lots of pollution, but much easier and ultimately cheaper to pump clean liquid coal by pipeline.
The government there doesn�t argue or debate issues with the public-with collaboration with Royal Dutch Shell, they have already started to build a liquid coal plant in the Ningxia region, with three more on the way.

Also, consider the car. Demand is growing worldwide. But so are demands for cleaner more efficient vehicles. Liquid coal can be used to make both gasoline or diesel fuel. But the most ecofriendly efficient car of the near future probably WON'T be a electric-gasoline hybrid but an electric-diesel hybrid. This will have similar refinement and performance but far better overall miles per gallon, lower emissions.
Also note that China and India plan to break into the car production market and will be in a powerful position to provide cheap clean fuel-efficient cars to their own vast markets and overseas.
Extra pressure on car manufacturers (dependant on crude oil and suffering from high production costs) and already hovering on the brink of bankruptcy in the US? Or to switch production heavily towards hybrids?Liquid coal - way to go!
Present coal plants can't and wont use oil for a fuel- burn profile is wrong and way too expensive. However any existing coal plant that presently burns coal will be able to burn liquid coal too. Efficient, kinder to the environment, no sulfur, mercury or ash AND less smells dust and fumes.

Expect politicians to push CTL and give it an easy tax ride for the same reasons they are presently favoring biofuels like ethanol:
(1) there�s the lure of a vote winning rural job-creation side from an industry otherwise viewed as declining.
(2) Many Western voters and investors are getting worried about the security implications of depending on their energy supplies from increasingly unfriendly or unstable nations.
(3) Many environmentalists, given the right conditions (e.g. high carbon capture at CTL plants, alternatives like nuclear energy), are likely to warm to CTL because of its overall cleaner profile.

Many firms are already investing in CTL. Forget oil and other oil substitutes for the moment. Look into it now if you are interested, and look for CTL specialists like Headwaters, Syntroleum Corp, and Rentech, and particuliarly, the highly experienced South African company, Sasol. Discover more energy investment 'finds'- plus all the best and latest secret red hot investments-at:http://www.red-hot-investment.com/

Read More...

A Solution for Saving Fuel

With fuel prices on the rise, saving fuel is again a top priority. If you drive and have more the one vehicle, higher fuel prices are taking a bigger bite out of your budget. But what’s unnerving about this round of increasingly higher fuel prices is it isn’t showing signs of stabilizing, and who knows when it is going to level off

If you’re already feeling the pinch of higher fuel prices, that pinch is certain to become more painful. So what are your options?

Time and again you hear that reducing the amount of miles you drive is an easy way of saving fuel. Yea right! With a daily round-trip commute to your full-time job and all the day-to-day errands to handle, it’s unlikely you can limit the number of trips to the fuel pump. Driving less sounds good in theory but in reality, it’s not always practical advice. Plus all the fuel being used up by people who jumped the border.

Something that is within your control is optimizing your car’s performance. You’ve probably even taken some fuel saver steps such as ensuring your tires are properly inflated, replacing dirty air filters, making fewer stops, and removing excess weight from your vehicle. But have you noticed that big a change in the fuel prices you pay as a result? Probably not.

Filling up using alternative fuel sounds promising and it sounds like the perfect solution but again, there’s a small but significant problem. Alternative fuel isn’t readily available! There probably aren’t even any fuel pumps in your neighborhood dispensing alternative fuel.

And the same goes for using fuel cells to power alternative fuel vehicles. It’s an idea that promises results, but it’s just beginning to catch on. Fuel cells are expensive to produce and although the fuel cell has been around 150+ years, the technology involved in using a fuel cell as a way of saving fuel is still in its infancy.

So what can you do right NOW?

If you’re serious about saving fuel (and who isn’t?) all you need to do is add a tested and proven fuel additive into your vehicle’s tank every time you visit the fuel pump. It doesn’t matter what you drive – car, truck, SUV, or diesel. By doing this you’ll get more miles out of every gallon you pump! Now that’s simple. And it’s smart. And it’s something you can do today.

Several fuel saver additives are currently available but some aren’t living up to their promises. So look for a product that states right on the label that it’s registered with the US EPA. The product does not have to be tested, just registered.

Then look for a fuel additive that does double-duty. In other words, while you’re saving fuel, you may as well do your part to save the environment! It’s easy when you use a fuel additive that works to reduce vehicle emissions. Nowadays it’s more important than ever to do what you can to reduce your impact on the environment. And what could be easier than using a fuel additive?

So stop complaining about ever-increasing fuel prices and start saving fuel (and the environment) with a proven fuel additive. It really is a simple solution!

One of the best out there is Libertyfuels.direct.com, the product is more the half the cost of the others and works as good or better. You can check it our for yourself at www.ecosavesfuel.com and or http://www.libertyfueldirect.com/

About the Author:
Fuel for a Free America

Read More...

Crude Oil vs. Alternative Energy: Which is Really Better?

If there was a world title fight who would you put your money on? 'Crude Oil' or 'Alternative energy'? The heavy weight champion of the world today is without a doubt: 'Crude Oil'. In a coming championship battle The Champion could have the upper hand in the first few rounds with explosive power and short term outburst of energy. It would even force a knock out by mean and vicious behaviour in the ring. It would also be nasty and filthy to fight. If the champ strikes very well in the first few rounds it could still be the heavy weight champion of the world. But if 'Alternative energy' could survive the first rounds then it would have a better chance on winning, because it has got endurance, a clear vision and fights a clean fight. There could be an upset and the new heavy weight champion of the world could be 'Alternate Energy'.

Of course there is no real fight, but the battle is really on. Today the fossil fuels like crude oil are our main source of energy. The problem with fossil fuels are that they very harmful for our environment. With the combustion of these fuels we pollute the earth and are gradually heating up the planet. This will have a major impact on the climates we currently have. We will see and are seeing dramatic changes in weather which can ruin cities within minutes or hours. All because of these negative side effects.Also we are running out of fossil fuels and they are more difficult to extract from the depths of the earth. The problem with these old energy sources is that it takes a very long time to form. It took the earth millions of years to form the current supply of old fuels and because we are extracting these from the earth to meet the growing demands we are running out.
Because the demand for energy is growing and the total supply is shrinking prices are increasing. This increase in demand for energy is not only caused by the western countries. New economies are rising and are in need of energy, a lot of energy. The problem is that these demands can not be met and it will not be resolved in the near future. Thus it can be said that the rising trend in crude oil prices will not be stopped.
When we look at alternative energy we can see great potential. These energy sources are available every day. The amount varies but the fact remains that sunshine, wind and running water will always be available. Therefore this source is cheap and available for nearly all.
Another great advantage is that converting these sources into useable electricity does not result in pollution. This is a clean form of energy that has no negative effect on the environment. Taking these advantages into the bigger picture it can be sad that we cannot go wrong with alternate energy. It is the right path.
When we look at the heavy weight championship fight 'Crude Oil' vs. 'Alternative energy', Oil may be the heavy-hitter, but hasn't got the stamina to go to full length of the fight. Alternative energy may be getting a few hits in the first few rounds, but those hits only get faster and stronger all the time. The fight will last longer then a few rounds and at the end a knocked out will follow and the next heavy weight champion will be crowned. Be sure to put your money on the next champion.




Bryan Wong is the owner of the renewable-energy information website www.GetEasyInfo.com/renewable-energy > - A great website that shares quality Info, News and TIPS on Renewable energy

Read More...

Austin's Reputation Gets Another Boost

Jim Olenbush

"It's no secret that Austin was chosen by Money Magazine as the No. 2 Best Big City in their ""Best Places to Live"" index, and was also picked from almost 400 U.S. cities by Moody's Economy and was rated #1 for the economic vitality index.

What more could you ask? Well - how about being voted the 'Greenest City in America' (chosen by MSN, referring to Austin's commitment to sustainable living)?

This month, Austin has yet another feather in its cap - an independent company (that is not a realty company!) has confirmed what real estate agents in Austin already knew - this place is still booming!

Austin is ranked as one of ten cities in the U.S. that has less than a one per cent chance of seeing a decline in realty. This will be no surprise to the people of Austin, who have sat back and watched high rise after high rise going up in the downtown Austin area.

This declaration has been stated by an independent company who recently published a chart of major U.S. cities. The cities were ranked according to mortgage risk in each metro real estate market.

The private mortgage insurance company (called PMI) ranked risky and safe cities in the United States for mortgage security. Their chart is completely unbiased, from a real estate point of view.

In fact, the reason it has been drawn up is so that the company does not offer to insure a mortgage on a property that is likely to drop its price. These projected market fluctuations represent their opinion, which is based on their own analysis.

All these excellent votes of confidence point to the fact that Austin - and consequently the realty market in Austin - is really strong and booming. If first time buyers are looking for a strong market and plenty of job prospects, Austin is the place.

The largest retail store yet to be built in the new Mueller development is scheduled to open later this year. Austin Energy's Green Building Program encourages sustainable design in the city, which this retailer is endeavoring to follow.

The 141,000 square foot Home Depot being built in the Catellus Development Group's Mueller redevelopment is aiming for the three star rating. It will be the first Home Depot in the area to implement such guidelines.

Austin has been a reliable realty market. It did not really fall prey to the crazy rush of the last two years, neither has it dropped its prices when they all did. Austin home values have kept rising slowly and steadily, and there is a lot of scope for a first time buyer to acquire a modest home.

If you are working on a limited budget, it is a good idea to buy a small (size and price) house at first. At least this way you will have your foot on the bottom rung of the realty ladder. If prices do take a jump, your home will jump with them. You can learn renovation tricks and the investment in your home will be returned to you when you sell.

Three-bedroom homes are still available in this thriving realty market for as little as under $150,000. These prices, added to the fact that mortgage interest rates are still down and the knowledge that Austin is such a booming city should have you rushing to Austin"

Jim Olenbush, experienced Austin real estate professional. His web site includes a comprehensive Austin homes search, financing information, and relocation resources for anyone moving to the Austin TX real estate area. For more information, visit Jim at JimOlenbush.com.

Read More...

This Why We Need Alternative Energy Sources

Bryan Wong

The need for alternative energy sources is getting urgent, hence the development of renewable energy is moving fast. Nationally and internationally various individuals and research companies are creating new and exciting energy systems. Some of these apparatus are great works and need improving for massive use. Politician's world-wide are drafting policies and are making agreements to make greater use of these energy sources.

The first problem is that the fossil fuels are depleting in a rapid rate and are harder to retrieve. The consequence is that we can be facing an energy crisis in the future is we are not careful today. The energy prices will sky rocket and not be available for many individuals or countries. To avoid this doom scenario we need to find alternatives and used them to their full potential. Luckily this is already happening.

The second problem is that the fossil fuels that are widely used today are harmful for the environment. In the early seventies and eighties there were people and even scientist who preach otherwise, but today the negative effects are showing. The earth is warming up and climates are changing. There are parts in the world were there be more rain and sunshine and others parts will be come dryer then they already are. Another negative effect is that the ozone layer is getting thinner which also leads to a warming up of the earth. These two effects compliment each other and make it even more crucial to make another step in a different direction. This step will lead us to the use of renewable energy.

Another problem lies in the development of small economies. Because the energy prices for crude oil are going through the roof, these countries suffer even more. Many of these countries need crude oil for their electricity and means of transportation. These high oil prices have their effect on almost everything. The monthly electricity costs for households increase among others like transport cost and prices for basic products. Hence, these high oil prices make it harder for these small countries to grow there economies.

The solution for the above problems can be resolved by renewable energy. Our beautiful planet gives us the opportunity to make proper us of sunlight, flowing water, strong winds, and hot springs and convert these into energy. These energy sources are abundant and free to use. We must be sure that we convert the energy the right way, without causing other problems that can again hurt our environment. Luckily the many efforts by individuals and companies show that this can be done

Bryan Wong is the owner of the renewable-energy information website www.GetEasyInfo.com/renewable-energy > - A great website that shares quality Info, News and TIPS on Renewable energy

Read More...

Renewable Energy Resources versus Fossil Fuels

Bryan Wong


In modern western world the demand for energy has increased dramatically in the past century and it will grow even further and harder in the near future than ever before. The need for energy rises with upcoming markets that also need more energy. Energy is needed for cars, buses, and other means of transportation, but also to run our appliances and provides us light. Energy is also important for our safety. At night or in the dark a lot can be stolen without proper lightning. Energy is therefore needed for our development and safety.
The way we use energy today comes from knowledge that has it's foundations in the past century and before. Great men like Newton and Philips have set the path for us today to make proper use of energy. The sources which we use for our energy demand are known as non-renewable energy resources. These sources will be discussed here in the article.
Definition of Non-Renewable Energy Resources
The name really explains it very well. Non-renewable energy resources are natural resources that cannot be recycled or re-grown. These natural resources are fossil fuels like coal, petroleum, and natural gas. It also includes mined resources such as the elements used in the production of electricity (uranium and plutonium, for instance). These resources replenish itself in a quicker rate.
Fossil fuels are very versatile. One of their functions is to generate electricity. In order to generate electricity, fossil fuels are burned through the process of combustion. The energy produced from the combustion process is used to power a turbine. The turbine is responsible for the conversion of energy produced from combusted fossil fuels into electricity.
Coal
Coal is one the most used fossil fuels. It is consider too be the most important energy source to produce electricity. The U.S. produces 50% of its energy supply through the combustion of coal. The coal itself is a brownish-black sedimentary rock which contains carbon and other assorted elements. It is extracted from the ground through underground mining or open-pit mining.
Natural Gas
Natural gas is also used to produce electricity. The electricity is produced through steam turbines and gas turbines. Because the gas contains methane the combustion emits less harmful gasses that have a negative effect on global warming. Thus natural gasses are better for the environment compared to petroleum and coal.
There is also another use for it and that is as fuel for cars. It is much cheaper that gasoline and produces less harmful gasses. The disadvantage of running your car on natural gas is that you need more fuel compared to gasoline and the car needs more maintenance. In countries like Argentina, Brazil, Pakistan, Italy, The Netherlands and India it is used as a fuel for cars.
Crude oil
This fuel is the most talk about for the past year(s). The prices for crude oil have gone through the roof and will be rising even more. The demand is increasing while there is less crude oil available. The term black gold is now more applicable than ever before.The oil itself is very think in consistency and has a dark brown or greenish colour characteristic. It is a complex mixture of different hydrocarbons. Crude oil or petroleum has various uses. It can be used as fuel or cars and different industrial machines. It is also used as a raw material for products like plastics, solvents, fertilizers and pesticides. Although the need for crude oil is high and the demand is rising the available crude oil is decreasing. That leaves us no other option than to look for alternatives.
Non-renewable energy plays a very important role in our daily lives. Non-renewable energy will be needed today and in the future. Because this energy source cannot be recycled or re-grown the reserves are limited. The consequences of the shortages of fossil fuels are experienced today and tomorrow. We will need to use these fossil fuels wisely and will need to shift our focus to other renewable energy source. These are the sources that we need to focus on today and years to come.





Bryan Wong is the owner of the renewable-energy information website www.GetEasyInfo.com/renewable-energy > - A great website that shares quality Info, News and TIPS on Renewable energy.

Read More...