Written by Phoenix Navigation
There has been a great emphasis put on recycling. Most of the time, this is through the re-use of plastic and glass bottles and containers. There is another type of recycling that could prove extremely valuable in the green movements efforts to improve the environment. The recycling of waste oil could help businesses adopt better practices that lead to cleaner operation.
What is Waste Oil?
Sources for waste oil fuels come in many forms: " Vegetable Oils " Cooking Oils " Recycle Oils " Biodiesel and/or Glycerin Mixtures " Used Motor Oils " Hydraulic Oils " Used Transmission Fluid " Combustible Synthetic Oils " Any oils up to 50 S.A.E.
Waste Oil Fuel Sources |
Waste oil is exactly what it sounds like it is, used synthetic or petroleum-based oil. In most cases, once oil has been used, it is no longer potent. Through regular use, the oil has either lost its original properties or contains impurities that make it unusable. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deems waste oil as used oil that matches the description above, but has not been recycled.
How Can Waste Oil Be Used?
There are a number of uses for waste oil that allow us to get more out of this common energy source. Waste oil can be burned as heating fuel. The cost of this depends on how much heat is needed and how much waste oil is generated. If you generate enough waste oil to meet your heating needs, no expense will be incurred. For those who need to supplement their waste oil, it can be purchased at a low 30 to 50 cents per gallon. Compare that to the going price of other heating fuels, and it is easy to see why many people are turning to waste oil as a heat source. The price of waste oil rarely changes because, unlike unused oil, waste oil prices are influenced by one factor (the individual or company collecting and selling it) rather than many.
The Sea Bird and Waste Oil
The Sea Bird (previously the USNS New Bedford T-AKL-17) will be refitted to run clean. A part of that will include the use of waste oil. Some people feel that using waste oil could increase fumes or smoke production due to the oil not being pristine. This is actually not the case. The Sea Bird will hopefully utilize a pulse combustion turbine waste oil burner. Through this burner, the ship will literally burn clean. The device should meet or exceed all the requirements listed by the EPA, making it not only clean but safe and effective. Reliability is another concern addressed by the technology planned for the Sea Bird. The pulse combustion turbine is designed to match the performance of conventional gas fired burner systems.
| ||||||
Related Articles:
Understanding Waste Oil: From Production to DisposalKris Land
Gas vs. Diesel vs. Tesla TurbineSarah Paulin
Global Climate Change vs. Global WarmingSarah Paulin
Powering the Sea Bird: The G50 Baldor Reliance AC VC MotorKris Land
Achieving Near Perfect Combustion?Kris Land
|
 |
|
|---|
Breaking News
Do not take baths, take showers. You will in average save about half the amount of water that you would if you were taking a bath.
1944: Camano Class Light Cargo Ship was laid down for the US Army as FS-289 at Wheeler Shipbuilding in Whitestone, NY.
1945: Delivered to US Army.
1950: Acquired by the US Navy on July 1, 1950 and placed in service as USNS New Bedford (T-AKL-17).
1954: The movie, Mister Roberts, was made on the USNS New Bedford (T-AKL-17).
1955 - 1963: Used as a cargo supply ship for the Texas Towers, a network of advanced radar stations located off the Eastern Seaboard. In 1957, Capt. Sixto Mangual was commander of the AKL-17 and in 1961 it was rechristened the USNS New Bedford. The New Bedford, sailing out of State Pier, was keeping vigil when Texas Tower No. 4 callapsed off the New Jersey coast during a January 1961 nor'easter.
1963: Reclassified as Miscellaneous Unclassified (IX-308).
1971: The New Bedford (IX-308) served as a Torpedo Test Firing Vessel in the Puget Sound area.
1994: Ceremony in New Bedford.
1995: The ship was struck from the Naval Register on April 4.
2004: The Sea Bird's current disposition is a tuna long liner (fishing boat) out of San Diego, CA.
2006: Design of the Tesla Turbine began on June 11, 2006. The Sea Bird was sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service for commercial service.
2007: The Sea Bird was drydocked for renovations.
2008: The Sea Bird setting sail to Sea-Tac in Seattle, WA.
2009 - 2010: The Sea Bird is currently docked at Seattle Sea-Tac.
