HVO Fuel: FAQs Worth Knowing

HVO renewable diesel is a biofuel that can be utilised in place of gasoline. The basic idea behind HVO fuel is to utilise sustainable by-products from farms and food processing industries instead of petroleum. HVO has been demonstrated to improve air quality, minimise greenhouse gas emissions, lower the cost of energy production, and provide work for farmers who would otherwise be without a job.

Here are some FAQs regarding HVO that may assist you in better comprehending.

What is Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO)?

A biofuel derived from processed vegetable oils or animal fats with a specific type of hydrotreatment is known as HVO fuel or hydrotreated vegetable oil. It's considered a renewable diesel because of its source material. It has a longer shelf life than other biodiesel like green diesel and unmodified vegetable oil.

How is HVO produced?

HVO biofuels converts fatty acid feedstock such as vegetable oils, animal fats, and cooking fats into hydrocarbons. The acids are treated with hydrotreatment. This component employs hydrogen to create paraffin and cycloalkanes from the unsaturated compounds via hydrocracking or isomerisation. After that, the fuels undergo hydrocracking, which adds hydrogen and heat to break up the larger molecules into smaller ones, and dewaxing, which removes high wax content from the fuel. The result is a finished product blended with diesel or used as-is.

How is HVO Fuel different from other diesel fuels?

HVO renewable diesel may provide certain advantages as an environmentally friendly substitute for diesel. Recent research revealed that the use of HVO lowers carbon monoxide and dioxide, as well as hydrocarbons, without necessitating any technical changes. However, the rate of nitrous oxide emissions from HVO fuel was unclear in the same study. While it is still a much cleaner fuel than traditional petroleum, HVO may have a higher emitter of nitrous oxide.

What is HVO fuel used for?

Avgas can be burned in almost any engine that would run on Avgas. It's an excellent alternative to diesel in various sectors, including construction, railway, events and public transportation.

It's commonly used in the following applications: Portable generators, Commercial boilers, Agricultural tractors and machines, Boats and vessels operating within coastal waterways, Construction equipment and machinery, Industrial trucks and tankers, Forklifts, Rail locomotives and carriages.

Several events and UK festivals, such as Glastonbury, have already switched to HVO fuel for their portable generators and vehicles.

What manufacturer approvals does HVO fuel have?

HVO fuel has OEM approvals from a wide range of manufacturers for various diesel engines. An OEM approval indicates that the fuel is safe to use and will not invalidate the engine or equipment warranty.

What additional infrastructure is needed for HVO fuel?

HVO can be used as a straight drop-in replacement for conventional diesel without requiring any modifications to existing infrastructure. Paraffinic fuels may be mixed with existing supplies without empty tanks, saving you money on an additional upfront expenditure to make the change.

Can fossil-free HVO fuel cause engine problems?

Crown HVO fuel can be used in most diesel engines. However, you should always check with the engine manufacturer's recommendations for each user. HVO fuel has been authorised by a wide range of OEMs, as previously stated.

Will I have to change my boiler for HVO?

HVO is a viable alternative for diesel, kerosene, and even natural gas in some cases because it does not require any modifications to your boiler. Depending on the type of boiler you have, you may not need to make any changes at all to use HVO. The more recent your boiler is, the more likely it is that you'll have an HVO compatible system.

What types of boilers can HVO fuel be used in?

HVOF is effective in most boiler types, including:

• Fire tube boilers

• Water tube boilers

• Direct water heaters

• Indirect water heaters

What is HVO fuel?

HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils) or sustainable diesel, HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetables) are far superior for the environment and motors than mineral diesel. HVO is a fantastic option for various applications that have an environmental impact.

What does it contain?

Fatty Acids and Hydroxyalkane VOMs (heptane, octane) are examples of paraffinic hydrocarbons. These segments include sulfur, a variety of aromatics, and oxygen-free characteristics that set them apart from Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME).

How is it produced?

HVO may be obtained from a variety of sources. HVO can be extracted in several ways, such as using different biofuels. The most popular method is to use crops.

After reading the preceding paragraphs, you should better understand HVO fuel. HVO fuel is not only an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil diesel. Still, it also offers several advantages over conventional fuels in terms of engine performance and emissions. It's suitable for all uses that need fuels to EN15940 specification (including generators, agricultural equipment, construction equipment, and stationary engines).