Student make Biodiesel for less than 5 Rs/l
Students experimenting with biodiesel
By LAURA TODE Of The Gazette StaffThe gray 1973 Mercedes in the Skyview High parking lot isn't your ordinary teenage project car, even though it has a snazzy blue, fire-winged falcon decal on the hood and metal-flake painted wheels.The old car has the characteristic knock and rattle of a diesel engine, but it has undergone a major transformation that for the past two years has been the work of about 20 Skyview students and two dedicated teachers.Students converted the vehicle to run on the biodiesel they make from used cooking oil, alcohol and potassium hydroxide.The project began two years ago with a simple chemistry formula. About 10 students in chemistry teacher Fred Michels' class got together after school several days a week to research and design a biodiesel processor, which Michels built last summer.45 cents a gallon After testing the processor and running more than 250 batches, students found they could efficiently make biodiesel for about 45 cents a gallon."In chemistry class you can do only so much in school and for this we got to do actual applications rather than just experiment in a lab," said Kevin Laborda, 18.Standardizing biodiesel Laborda took chemistry as a sophomore and is ready to graduate. He plans on pursuing a career in chemical engineering and, if he can, continuing to work on making biodiesel a standard in the automotive industry.This last year, when it came time to put the biodiesel to use, another team of 11 students jumped on board. Trevor Brown, a Skyview senior, took the lead in the mechanical conversion. He's hoping to go into welding and has been taking classes at the Career Center. He figured the challenge would be fun."It sounds silly, but I heard that the exhaust smells like french fries and I wanted to smell it - and yes it does," said Brown.The car was donated by Bob Dillon, and 17 local businesses provided materials and expertise in making biodiesel and converting the car.
The students worked on the project after school, and tech ed teacher Kurt Wosley and Michels were not paid for the time they spent with the students."It's real science," said Michels. "It's true problem solving. It's not learning content out of a book and filling it in on a test. It's trial and error and problems come up constantly, and you're trying to learn new solutions to problems as you go."The biodiesel gels at about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. So to make the engine work in Montana's climate, the students designed the car to start on regular diesel. The biodiesel is sent through a warming coil in a tank in the trunk. When the fuel is warmed, the driver flips a switch and the vehicle runs exclusively on biodiesel.The biodiesel car will make its first public appearance Wednesday at the Laurel Aviation Week at Laurel High School. After that, it should be a regular at Skyview sporting events, parades and other events to promote biodiesel."We're hoping that the project will turn some heads in the community toward alternative energy and help them make up their minds to move forward on it," Michels said.
Source:-
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/05/08/news/local/30-biodiesel.prt
By LAURA TODE Of The Gazette StaffThe gray 1973 Mercedes in the Skyview High parking lot isn't your ordinary teenage project car, even though it has a snazzy blue, fire-winged falcon decal on the hood and metal-flake painted wheels.The old car has the characteristic knock and rattle of a diesel engine, but it has undergone a major transformation that for the past two years has been the work of about 20 Skyview students and two dedicated teachers.Students converted the vehicle to run on the biodiesel they make from used cooking oil, alcohol and potassium hydroxide.The project began two years ago with a simple chemistry formula. About 10 students in chemistry teacher Fred Michels' class got together after school several days a week to research and design a biodiesel processor, which Michels built last summer.45 cents a gallon After testing the processor and running more than 250 batches, students found they could efficiently make biodiesel for about 45 cents a gallon."In chemistry class you can do only so much in school and for this we got to do actual applications rather than just experiment in a lab," said Kevin Laborda, 18.Standardizing biodiesel Laborda took chemistry as a sophomore and is ready to graduate. He plans on pursuing a career in chemical engineering and, if he can, continuing to work on making biodiesel a standard in the automotive industry.This last year, when it came time to put the biodiesel to use, another team of 11 students jumped on board. Trevor Brown, a Skyview senior, took the lead in the mechanical conversion. He's hoping to go into welding and has been taking classes at the Career Center. He figured the challenge would be fun."It sounds silly, but I heard that the exhaust smells like french fries and I wanted to smell it - and yes it does," said Brown.The car was donated by Bob Dillon, and 17 local businesses provided materials and expertise in making biodiesel and converting the car.
The students worked on the project after school, and tech ed teacher Kurt Wosley and Michels were not paid for the time they spent with the students."It's real science," said Michels. "It's true problem solving. It's not learning content out of a book and filling it in on a test. It's trial and error and problems come up constantly, and you're trying to learn new solutions to problems as you go."The biodiesel gels at about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. So to make the engine work in Montana's climate, the students designed the car to start on regular diesel. The biodiesel is sent through a warming coil in a tank in the trunk. When the fuel is warmed, the driver flips a switch and the vehicle runs exclusively on biodiesel.The biodiesel car will make its first public appearance Wednesday at the Laurel Aviation Week at Laurel High School. After that, it should be a regular at Skyview sporting events, parades and other events to promote biodiesel."We're hoping that the project will turn some heads in the community toward alternative energy and help them make up their minds to move forward on it," Michels said.
Source:-
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/05/08/news/local/30-biodiesel.prt
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