Biodiesel is another kind of clean energy in addition to ethanol and biogas. Ageratec Biodiesel is a family company in Norrköping in Sweden. It produces both biodiesel and biodiesel processing machines and equipment.
With a little strange smell in the plant, one can immediately realize that they are making full use of the used oil, vegetable oil and animal fat.
Innovation is the key
"Innovation is the key", said David Frykerås, Managing Director of Ageratec Biodiesel.
David Frykeras"One of those innovations is to link our processors in a modular system-we call it our multi-link processor solution so that it can be linked into a larger system providing maximum flexibility" explained Frykerås.
He said that the processors are automatically controlled, therefore use very few people for complicated calculations and operation. The system has a built-in monitoring and back-traceable control system to ensure good quality processed biodiesel all the time.
"What is the advantage of your machine, compared with other players?" Asked the journalist. There are a few other players in producing biodiesel in the world.
"It is very innovative because it doesn't use water for cleaning the used oil and produce biodiesel. And it recycles the excessive methanol or ethanol-a benefit for both environment and economy." said Frykerås.
All processors and equipment are mounted on easy transportable frames that fit into 40 foot containers. It can be set up quickly. The heat pump system with an intelligent heat recovery system lowers energy consumption and enables flexible heat energy source.
Controls pumps, valves, regulators and time sequences are all program controlled. It is also energy saving.
"With only 20 litres of diesel we can clean 1000 litres of diesel, so 980 litres can be sold. It is very energy efficient", said Frykerås.
Frykerås said Ageratec's modular solution can process several different types of feedstock at the same time. The normal operating temperature for Ageratec processors is between 10 and 38 degrees Celsius and the ventilation should be of normal industrial standard.
A monitoring and control system, centrally operated from a separate control room, will ensure high quality consistency. The system has back traceable memory for 365 days.
From the chemical storage area, the chemicals are automatically measured and dispensed as needed for the processing. A laboratory for testing raw material and processed biodiesel assures high quality input and output. The automated batch system optimizes the intake of all raw materials used in the process.
Environmental careBiodiesel is one of the clean energy solutions.
Locally produced biodiesel stimulates the economy through an increased demand for agricultural products(mainly rape) and biodegradable waste products used to produce biodiesel.
The infrastructure for handling biodiesel is already in place through the fossil diesel distribution network. There is no need to establish new distribution stations.
With a reduction of 75% of CO2 emissions, sulphur and particulate emissions, the environmental benefits is so obvious. Further, biodiesel's low aquatic toxicity makes it an excellent alternative in environmentally sensitive areas such as inland waterways or where ventilation is a concern.
Why produces biodiesel?Frykerås said that it is a new business opportunity. It helps to reduce dependence on foreign oil, help achieve regional goals for increasing renewable energy sources and increase the options for handling biodegradable waste products as well as create cleaner environment in sensitive areas like city centers and warehouses.
Pilot biodiesel plantWith all the environmental benefits, biodiesel is also cost effective. There is no need to modify or just modify little the existing diesel engines, at the same time, it helps enhance lubrication in engine. One can distribute it through existing fossil diesel infrastructure.
Frykerås said that they manufactured their first machine in 2003 and sold it to Norway. As a family company, there are 37 people working in the plant in Norrköping.
They also have people working in Holland, USA and 15 other countries as it is expanding quickly.
It works well in AfricaFrykerås said that since they try to use all kinds of raw materials such as rape, soya, kitchen oil and even palm trees, he doesn't think that competes with food production.
In different areas, they figure out different raw materials to use. For example, in Sweden, in addition to rape, they collect all kinds of kitchen oil and all the Macdonald's waste in the country goes to his plant. But in Rwanda and Ivory Coast in Africa, they are using local tree branches in addition to used oil.
Due to conflict and poor infrastructure, some African local communities like to be independent in producing biodiesel. They want to produce themselves locally, but not transport it from other areas because of the poor road conditions. For example in a community in Ivory Coast, people can produce biodiesel everyday. And Ageratec not only sells them machines, help them install, but also train technicians for them so that they can operate it themselves later. They trained six persons for Rwandan National Research Institute which bought the machine.
The company also has some projects which involve in foreign aid in Zambia, sponsored by Swedish International Development Aid or SIDA.
As Frykerås said, biodiesel can be one of the solutions to deal with climate change issues by reducing CO2 emission and making full use of waste oil. It can also be one of the substitute of fossil fuel.
By Xuefei Chen People's Daily Online correspondent in Stockholm.
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