B100 is another name for Biodiesel Fuel.
B100 is another high-level biodiesel blend used as an alternative fuel. It is less common than B20 and lower blends due to a lack of government regulatory incentives and pricing.
When using high-level blends several things should be considered. The purest biodiesels contain less energy on a volumetric basis than standard petroleum diesel. Therefore, the higher percentage of biodiesel >20 %, the lower the energy potential per gallon. It’s a matter of efficiency.
High-level biodiesel blends can impact engine warranties, gel in colder temperatures, and create regulatory storage issues. B100 use may also increase nitrogen oxide emissions, although it greatly reduces other toxic emissions. As you can see B100 has some issues that must be accepted and complied with. Research and Development of B100 continue but mostly from the private business sector.
B100 requires special handling and may require equipment modifications.
The United States imported 11% of its petroleum, and transportation was responsible for nearly three-quarters of its use. Depending heavily on foreign petroleum supplies puts the United States at risk for trade deficits, supply disruption, and price changes. Biodiesel is produced in the United States and used in conventional diesel engines, directly substituting for or extending supplies of traditional petroleum diesel. Biodiesel has a positive energy balance, meaning that biodiesel yields 4.56 units of energy for every unit of fossil energy consumed over its life cycle. (See USDA study Source: Alternative Fuels Data Center
Currently, the performance of vehicles with higher diesel/bio ratio run better with higher contents of diesel. The shelf life of stored biodiesel is short compared to straight fossil fuel products which can create limitations in how it is used.
Biodiesel continues to show great promise as research at universities and in the private sector continues. Work continues on increasing the shelf life of biomasses and the performance capabilities of biodiesel.
