AGQM completes assessment of biodiesel for parking heaters
December 9, 2013
BY Ron Kotrba
The German biodiesel quality association, AGQM, and a leading manufacturer of parking heater systems completed a long-term oxidation stability study of biodiesel from rapeseed oil using different additives and storage conditions.
“The results serve as basis for the continuing development of parking heaters fit for the operation with biodiesel,” AGQM stated. “Fuels intended for the operation of parting heaters must be of high quality which must then also be guaranteed for the post-summer time when frost sets in again.”
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The biodiesel was stored under ideal, as well as real, storage conditions for nine months, blended with four conventional oxidation stabilizers in two concentrations each.
According to AGQM, sampling was carried out on a monthly basis and critical parameters such as oxidation stability, acid and peroxide numbers, and water content were determined. The results of the analyses show that additives significantly improve the fuel’s properties while the influence of the storage conditions is rather small.
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“Thus, the prerequisites for biodiesel as fuel for parking heaters are enhanced,” the organization stated.
AGQM says it will perform additional tests to assess the tendency of stored biodiesel to form deposits during evaporation in realistic test stand runs.
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