The Future of Fuel?
Giant Miscanthus, also known as elephant grass because of its 13 foot height, may be an important source of energy in the future. The dry stems, which drop their leaves in the winter make an excellent solid fuel. Their energy ratio of input to output is less than 0.2 compared to 0.8 or more for ethanol and biodiesel.
Elephant grass is an environmentally friendly fuel; any carbon dioxide it release when it burns was taken from the atmosphere as it grew, the nitrogen it draws from the soil is stored in an underground organ called a rhizome, it outgrows weeds, requires little water and minimal fertilizer and thrives in untilled fields.
Illinois researchers estimate that if 10 percent of the state’s land mass were devoted to elephant grass, it could provide half of the state’s electricity needs. Researchers hope to demonstrate how power plants can be modified to use Miscanthus as a fuel as some plants in Europe have already done.
Winter Diesel Fuel Tips
When fueling on the road, check the truck stop and make sure pump filters have been changed. Clue – clean filters. Look for hydrosorb filters, these will remove water from the fuel before it gets in your tanks and forms ice or gelling.
Ask the supplier if they are using a bioblended fuel and if it has been treated. Also ask if the fuel has been tested for CFPP. Bioblended fuels are harder to treat in the winter and will not perform like a straight #2. Whatever you do, do not add gasoline to diesel fuel, I have heard of truckers doing this but none seem to know the risks they are taking with their lives and the truck.
You may also want to check the filter on the pump for micron level. If the pump is a 15 micron and your fuel filter is a 2 micron; you may have some filter plugging issues down the road as the weather gets colder.
Our Fuel tips are written by Dusty Wright
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When fuel prices go up a penny or two most people don’t really notice. When the cost of fuel goes up 16 cents in a couple of weeks, people start to notice and it kicks in a memory of the summer of 2008 when prices soared to over $4.00 a gallon.
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