MATC, UW-MADISON COLLABORATE ON
BIODIESEL FUEL REACTOR
MADISON -- Madison Area Technical College today dedicated its
new biodiesel reactor, built in partnership with the University
of Wisconsin-Madison to produce motor fuel blended from waste vegetable
oil and methanol. The reactor will be used to educate MATC students
in the production, use
and quality control of biodiesel fuels
and the maintenance of biodiesel-fueled engines and vehicles.
“As high gas prices create growing interest in energy alternatives,
training the workforce for emerging industries like biodiesel is
one way MATC can help fuel our economy,” said Dr. Bettsey
Barhorst,
MATC president.
At a news conference and dedication ceremony at MATC’s Truax
location in Madison, students and faculty from the two colleges
demonstrated how the reactor purifies cooking oil recovered from
a restaurant’s deep fryer and blends it into a fuel that
can operate a diesel-powered vehicle without engine modifications.
A semi truck running on biodiesel fuel was then driven through
a ceremonial banner, officially dedicating the reactor.
UW-Madison engineering students designed and built the laboratory-scale
reactor at the request of MATC’s Diesel Equipment Technology
associate degree program. “The goal is for students
to synthesize and study various biodiesel fuel blends,” stated
project director Ken Walz, an MATC chemistry instructor. “The
reactor will allow students to experiment with different feedstocks,
catalysts, and processing temperatures to optimize biodiesel production.
Students will then characterize the fuel that they produce, to
measure various properties such as specific gravity, viscosity,
flash point, and oxidative stability.”
The biodiesel product will be used to fuel stationary diesel engines
and diesel powered vehicles operated by MATC students. These
engines will be monitored for scheduled oil sampling, five gas
emissions testing, and periodic engine wear according to industry
standard practices. “Biodiesel has some unique properties,” noted
MATC diesel instructor Paul Morschauser. “The
lubricity of biodiesel is greater than that of conventional fuel,
and it has a very low sulfur content. We expect that the biodiesel
fuel will reduce the concentration of hydrocarbons, particulate
matter, and sulfur oxides in engine exhaust.”
“Biodiesel is also an environmentally friendly fuel,” added
Stephanie Britton, a UW materials science graduate student who
is completing a teaching internship at MATC. “Because the
oils used to make biodiesel come from agricultural crops, combustion
of the fuel has zero net carbon dioxide emissions. This reduces
greenhouse gases and helps address global warming.”
“This is an exciting project, not only because it advances
a promising energy technology, but because it’s a timely
collaboration between the UW and MATC to address a statewide concern,” said
UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley, who participated in the ceremony.
Wisconsin Agriculture Secretary Rod Nilsestuen, who also spoke
at the event, added: “Biodiesel is a key part of state government’s
strategy to promote clean, renewable energy alternatives that will
generate jobs and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Our university
and technical college systems are important partners in that effort.”
The Biodiesel reactor project was conceived by MATC’s Consortium
for Education in Renewable Energy Technologies (CERET). CERET is
a National Science Foundation grant-funded initiative to develop
curriculum for renewable energy instruction in colleges and high
schools and provide hands-on renewable energy workforce training.
MATC is one of the largest of the Wisconsin Technical College
System’s 16 colleges. It provides “real world smart” education
through a comprehensive curriculum of technical, liberal arts and
science, adult basic education and life enrichment studies and
activities, as well as customized employee training. MATC offers
associate degrees, vocational diplomas and certificates, and non-degree
courses in more than 140 programs of study. The college serves
parts of 12 counties located in southcentral Wisconsin and offers
instruction through five campuses and numerous community locations
throughout the district.
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Last
Modified:
August 4, 2006
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