bioheat

Constantin

It's certainly not good to hear that the bio-fuel is out of spec often. On the other hand, industry people have also told me that the enforcement of standards re: heating oil are very lax as well and thus off-spec fuel can be "disposed of" by selling it for a "really good price". On older boilers with very wide passages, it probably wouldn't have made much of a difference.

The good news is that Suntec has given approval for use of up to B5 on <b>all</b> their A&B series pumps. Since I consider the pump to be the most critical part when it comes to bio-issues (lubricity, seal swelling, etc.) getting approval to run B5 in them is pretty much all I need to sleep well at night. Next year, when I get the boiler serviced, I'll be sure to ask for a new set of oil pump seals to "upgrade" the AB35 on my Vitoflame to B20 capability.

Another benefit of ultra-low sulfur fuel is just how clean the boiler is. Brookhaven labs showed the dramatic impact that sulfur has re: soot formation. Running my boiler on clean fuel has kept it clean too, which maximizes heat transfer. Mod-cons and other gas-fired appliances are no different (see the "mouse turd" phenomenon that seems to affect LP-fired units in particular), they benefit from clean fuel also.

As for the bus being towed, who knows what the cause was. A leak in the cooling system is just as disabling as a fried fuel pump. Correlation is not equal to causation.

doug_14

2 % bioheat

I HAVE BEEN SELLING 2% BIOHEAT FOR 4 MONTHS WITH LITTLE OR NO FEEDBACK FROM CUSTOMERS I HAVE ASK A FEW OF THE SERVICE MEN IF THEY ARE SEEING ANY CHANGES , MOST DID NOT. IS THIS TO SOON TO SEE ANY THING OR IS THIS % NOT GOING TO DO MUCH

Constantin

For what it's worth...

I use a Vitola 200 with B5. I noticed several changes rather quickly:

1. The combustion chamber is no longer lined with sulphur deposits from the fuel.
   
2. The black soot deposits have mostly disappeared... a little brown dust remains, but the amount is tiny.
   
3. The unit runs fine, no issues with light-off, combustion, etc. Better yet, Suntec has given it's official approval to use up to B20 on all its A&B series pumps (IIRC, it's the AB-35 on the Vitoflame 100).
   
4. As a result of the lack of sulphur, cleaning the unit is no longer unpleasant - much less acidic dust, no caked-on deposits, etc.

Based on my limited anecdotal experience, low-sulfur bioheat is great. The only caveat I've heard of is that low-sulfur bio-blends can dissolve gunk in dirty tanks, leading to clogged filters. That wasn't an issue in my roth tanks, but they were pretty new when I started using B5.

ttekushan_3

filters

good idea to have extra filters on hand if there's enough gunk in the tanks and fuel supply. BTW, I like the idea that everything's being cleaned out. Cleanliness is next to... Well, its a good thing in my book, anyway.

I've been running B20 in my old Peugeot TurboDiesel and filter clogging has never been a problem. Smoke is down, motor oil stays clean longer, performance is same or better as is fuel economy.

And an issue with older autos is the sulfur removal's effect on fuel lubricity. Injection pumps can fail. Bio blends restore most of that lost lubricity.

Interesting to see that effects are positive in heating oil applications. Be patient. Someone will finally notice when the next service intervals come around.

-Terry

kevin coppinger_4

this is where ....

we as a nation need to be going...both as a clean issue and as a national security issue...omny one dealer in seacoast NH is selling it right now.....we need more!

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subcooler

Constantin

Do me a favor and pull up the tank alarm in the corner of the tank and smell around the grommet and tell me what you smell..

doug_14

ECONOMICS 101

ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS TO SELL BIOHEAT AND BIODIESEL IS THAT ITS MADE IN THE USA BY THE FARMERS WHO PLANT A NEW CROP EVERY SPRING. THAT WILL PUT US BACK ON THE ROAD TO OUR ENGERY INDEPENDENCE. ONE OF THE MISCONCEPTION IS THAT IT IS CHEAPER WE ARE TRYING TO MAINTAIN THE SAME PRICE BEFORE WE ADDED BIO

PJO_5

After 15 Months of B20...

My boiler is fine as well. I started to burn it last fall, and I actually had one delivery of B100...I then took a delivery of 150 gallons of "dino-fuel" to even it out some due to oil pump worries (see below).

All in all, the same sort of things that Constantin mentioned above; a little cleaner in the HX (but only one look during last year's cleaning), less acrid smell in the vent gasses (I have direct venting), and no difference in boiler performance. It also doesn't have as dark of a color in the fuel...not sure why but maybe it has 20% less red dye.

One possible problem: I replaced my oil pump shortly after my second delivery of B20, but I think it was a coincidence....have burned about 900 gallons since then with no issues (including 250 gallons of B100 that mixed in). The seal was leaking and the pump kept sucking air into the line.

Take Care, PJO

[Deleted User]

Suntec has not,

as of 11/15/06, endorsed B20 in all of their units. Working for component availability sometime in Jan 2007. Since Mar 2006, they have shipped approx 75,000 fuel units w/ the new B20 seal. It's brown. As of last Wednesday, a Reillo Rep. still nixed bio in their pumps.

Perhaps we should be a wee bit more careful in our head long rush to bio. The National Renewable Energy Lab found 50% of biodiesel was out of spec in @ least one parameter between 11/05 & 7/06. The other day I saw a spanking new bus proudly covered w/ advertising for its 100% biodiesel fuel. It was on the hook of a non-biodiesel tow truck.

subcooler

Seals

The only damage I have seen is swelling of gaskets and seals..

kevin coppinger_4

interesting....

your point is well taken but if we wait for the pump mfg. to come up to speed it will be awhile....we really don't have that kind of time...really. If we push it the pump and buner mfg. will soon get w/ it...that is if they want to stay in business....kpc

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Constantin

???

I don't have time right now, but when I do, what should I expect? AFAIK, Roth has given approval to the use of bio-blends in their tanks. Thanks, subcooler.

subcooler

Mine

has a faint diesel smell. I talked to Roth about this a few years ago and they assured me that I had a leak at one of the connections. I don't think so. I went to the point of using q-tips around the tank connections and had no smell, but the tank smells between the liner inside. I have used a blend in the tank since 2001..

Maine Doug_55

Too many

technical complications. I have found that up here the best bioheat is snuggling up to my wife's butt.

Weezbo

Have you noticed any chemical build ups on fire tubes...

with oil systems using only the low sulphur heating oil?



when you reconfigure the pump pressure nozzel and air are you bumping the pressure and nozzel sizes up?

now, when you use bio and low sulphur...do you notice a vast difference in combustion stability with larger 2-3 gal nozzels?...vs .6 .8 1.25 "residential" nozzels?