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	To determine fuel heat characteristics, SwRI staff conduct thermal conductivity tests.

Developing renewable fuel sources is becoming increasingly important to stem problems associated with fossil fuels and their effects on pollution and the overall global environment. Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has extensive experience in preparing and analyzing conventional and alternative fuels, fluids and lubricants. Finding, producing, and transporting fossil fuels; developing and assessing alternative sources; and cleaning up energy byproducts remain core programs. SwRI’s blends of field experience, engineering and chemical skills, and design and fabrication capabilities offer an interdisciplinary approach to fuel-related services.

Biodiesel

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel made from animal fats and also from the oils of plants such as:

• Algae

• Soybeans

• Canola

• Palm

Biodiesel is typically blended with petroleum-based diesel fuels and is non-toxic and biodegradable. Biodiesel is a clean-burning alternative fuel that offers several advantages over conventional diesel fuel, including:

• Decreased smog-forming potential

• Reduced sulfur emissions

• Biodegradable and nontoxic characteristics

• Reduced dependence on foreign oil

In addition to evaluating conventional and other alternative fuels, SwRI has extensive capabilities for analyzing biodiesel and biodiesel blends.

Our modern and extensive facilities are equipped to perform analytical requirements for biodiesel fuels according to ASTM D6751.

For more information about biodiesel fuel technology, visit biodiesel.swri.org.

	Researchers use a Rancimat™ to determine the storage stability of biodiesel fuel.

Fluids Analysis

On-site laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation and equipment to perform fluids analysis safely and efficiently. Fuels, lubricants, and hydraulic fluids are separated by column methods and analyzed for chemical composition and specific physical properties. Specialized analytical facilities include:

• Inductively coupled argon plasma spectrometer

• High-temperature gas chromatograph

• Infrared spectroscopy

• High-performance liquid chromatograph

• X-ray fluorescence spectrometer

• Gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer

• Interfacial tension (IFT)

• Thermal conductivity

• Bulk modulus

• Dielectric constant

Engineers and scientists perform a wide variety of fuels and fluid-related research. Technical strengths include fluid mechanics, heat transfer, sensor development, liquid filtration, contamination control and identification, fuel and water logistics, chemometric methods of analysis, and test methods development.

SwRI also conducts projects in fuel properties, fuel combustion, grease, aviation fuels, thermal stability and specialty fluids. Capabilities in this area include:

	SwRI's Fuels Processing Center incorporates many services, safety features, and outside facilities for storage, blending, and bulk liquid handling.

Finished Fuels Processing Center

Process technology capabilities include a Fuels Processing Center with pilot plants capable of producing drum quantities, custom laboratory-scale pilot plants, and analytical support to provide quantitative and qualitative analyses. Projects include improvement, new process development, and process parameter development. SwRI laboratories are equipped to conduct:

• Oxidations

• Distillations

• Hydrogenations

• Reforming

• Column separations

• Physical separations

Read more about SwRI's upstream fuels processing capabilities in the Hydrocarbon Processing brochure. For more information about hydrocarbon processing, contact Dr. Jimell Erwin at jerwin@swri.org or (210) 522-2389.

Future Aviation Fuels

With rising costs and dwindling sources for petroleum fuels, use of renewable fuel sources in the aviation industry is of growing interest. Extensive research is underway to find suitable fuels for future aviation use. SwRI is conducting studies in the areas of synthetic paraffins and kerosenes.

For more information about our alternative fuels, fluids, and lubricants capabilities, or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Gary Bessee at gbessee@swri.org or (210) 522-6941.

altfuels.swri.org

| Fuels and Lubricants Technology Department | Fuels and Lubricants Research Division | SwRI Home |

Southwest Research Institute^® (SwRI^®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 11 technical divisions.

December 28, 2012