In the current period of time, there are various people in the UK who are not that much dependent on the use of traditional and conventional kinds of diesel and/or petrol or even fossil fuel. They are more into the demand that is linked with the use of the fuel that releases fewer levels of pollutants. Among those kinds of fuels that are more environmentally friendly, HVO can be categorised as one. This means hydro-treated vegetable oil. This fuel is prepared by the method that is known as hydro-treatment. This fuel is mainly prepared by the use of feedstock.

People use the HVO fuel in various existing engines of petrol and diesel. For the use of this fuel, the engine does not need to be changed and/or modified. This fuel works as the best level of drop-in alternative for various machines and is also helpful in decreasing the levels of co2 emissions. It also gives the best kinds of heating for the different homes and offices, especially during the harsh winters.

This article will shed light on your all queries about what is HVO fuel and what all are its benefits and characteristics. 

About HVO Fuel

The fuel that is known as HVO is a kind of renewable fuel. This is a kind and category of synthetic diesel and has been removed from the substances of fats of animals and oils of vegetables.

Definition: The answer to your question of what is HVO fuel can be given by mentioning that this fuel is also known as green diesel and is made by the process of removing all the impurities from the feedstock.

Composition: The substances of hydro-treated vegetable oil are composed by the use of alkanes and/or paraffinic hydrocarbons. The formula that has been used here is CnH2n+2.

Drop-in fuel: The HVO fuel has also been described and mentioned as “drop-in fuel”. This is said because this fuel can be directly filled in the fuel container or engine in the place of traditional kinds of gasoline and diesel fuel. The engine that will be used here needs no changes.

How Does HVO Fuel Work?

The HVO fuel works easily in the process of combustion in the place of ordinary petrol. It is available in many distribution networks and fuel stations.

Hydro-treating: The process of work of this fuel is done by the methods of hydro-treating. This is also known as HDS or hydrodesulphurisation. This is a method of managing the channels or catalytic properties of chemicals. This is the method that works for removing the contents of nitrogen and sulphur from it.

· Hydrogenation

The process of hydrogenation is the method or process where the atoms of hydrogen are attached to the double bond of a composite or compound. This works as an exchange of a single bond by the presence of a channel. The hydrocarbons here that have double bonds are being said as unsaturated.

· Hydro-cracking

In a way to answer what is HVO fuel this should be mentioned that this fuel also goes through the process of hydro-cracking. This is basically a process of refinement. In this method, the catalyst particles or channels are kept under a high level of pressure to make the fuel lighter.

· Isomerization

In this method, the linear forms of n-alkanes or the hydrocarbons are changed into the forms of iso-alkanes.

Process of Purification: To make the contents of HVO fuel more clean and pure this purification process is done. This process detaches all the impurities like metals, the forms of phosphorus, and other kinds of contaminants. This is done to make the fuel of the best quality.

Addition of hydrogen: In the process of creating the fuel like HVO the substances of hydrogen are added to different feedstock like used cooking oils at a high level of temperature.

Characteristics Of HVO Fuel

The sources of HVO fuel have extended life for storages. It can also  be purchased and used easily. 

High number of Cetane: The substances of hydro-treated vegetable oil have the existence of Cetane in high numbers. This can be more than 70. It makes the process of burning the fuel more clean.

Low level of aromatic content: The fuel like HVO has no existence of any aromatic hydrocarbons. This decreases the release of the different kinds of pollution like NOx and SO2.

Excellent work in cold weather: If you ask what is HVO fuel exactly famous for? The answer will be that it works efficiently in the time of severe colder months. The fuel has a high range of CFPP or cold filter plugging points and it does not freeze even in highly cold temperatures.

Sustainable and renewable fuel source: The preparation of this fuel and the substances used in this make it more sustainable and environment-friendly. This is a great alternative to fossil fuels.

Some Considerations On HVO Storage 

It has been seen that fuel like HVO can be stored for a long time, nearly the time-frame of 10 years. This has high resistance power to damage or degradation. However, you need to have proper maintenance of the fuel tank.

Checks for Density: While storing the HVO fuel there should be the assessment of its compactness and density. At a temperature of 15 degrees C, this fuel has a range of compactness of 778 kg for one litre. This density is lower than that of fuel like diesel.

Choosing a clean and well-ventilated place to store: This fuel should be kept in a tank and the tank should be kept in a location that is open and has the proper level of ventilation. This should be easily accessible when needed.

Compatibility for old boilers: You can store this fuel in an old kind of boiler; nevertheless, you need to make some changes and modifications to it by calling a professional. The machines that have gone through EN 590 ULSD rules and standards can use HVO in them.

Meeting the standards: You may want to know what is HVO fuel meant by when it comes to meeting the various government rules and standards. This fuel should follow and consider the rules of EN 15940.  Before using this fuel you should also cheque whether it has gone through the commands of Fuel Quality 2009/30/EC Annex II.

Checks for water contamination: Before storing this fuel in a container you should cheque whether it is contaminated by water. For this, you can use a paste to find the water. The water can be checked on the top, in the middle and the bottom of the tank. At times some of the fuel samples are also taken to find water contamination.

Use of bunded tanks: A tank that has double layers or covers can be utilised to store HVO fuel. These are also known as bunded tanks. These kinds of tanks will protect the fuel from any theft or degradation.

Draining and Cleaning: The tank and area where the tank is stored should have a proper drainage facility; so that when there is any contamination the waste fuel can be cleaned and drained.

Uses Of HVO Fuel

The HVO fuel can be used for various needs of homes and offices. They can be used for home heating, in the marine business, and the business of construction and agriculture.

For Businesses

In businesses fuel like HVO is used for various purposes like in various machines and power generators. Let’s find out what the other uses of it are.

Transportation: In a quick understanding of what is HVO fuel, it can be checked that this fuel is used even in the process of transportation. The various logistics vehicles and those vehicles that are heavy-duty use this fuel.

Heavy machines: Different kinds of heavy machines can run on HVO fuel. These can be crawlers’ and/or mobile cranes, and other machines of mining.

Emergency generator of power: The forms of emergency generators of power in the small and big factories use this fuel. This works as a clean alternative to the other fuels and releases less GHG emissions. 

Applications in the industry: In the various types of industrial operations this fuel can be used. Like in the process of construction and in the use of bulldozers, excavators, and other forms of machines this fuel can be applied.

Uses in data centres: This fuel is also used in various data centres and is considered a second-generation fuel.

For Homes

The substances of HVO fuel are also used in various homes. The usage is based on the location of the dealer, the location of the user, and the current status of the market.

Heating machines: In homes, HVO is used in various heating machines that are burned by oil. They are also used in central heating systems.

Vehicles: Different kinds of vehicles that are heavy duty and those vehicles that are used for non-road purposes use this fuel. Some of the passenger cars also work with this fuel.

HVO vs. Diesel

While having details of what is HVO fuel and how it is different from diesel it can be said that diesel is a conventional kind of fuel. It is taken from the substances of petrol and crude oil. On the other hand, HVO is made from waste and discarded products. The substances of this fuel can be mixed with diesel and can be used. It has more power and stability than that of gasoline and diesel. They both have different forms of density.

How Will HVO Increase Your Operations? 

 In the near future HVO fuel will be a great source of heating homes and offices in the different areas of the UK. This works for reducing the substances of CO2 discharges to nearly 90%. The carbon monoxide and NOx discharges are also reduced and eliminated by 27% and by 25%. The government of the UK also is giving various incentives for using HVO. 

The Bottom Line

In conclusion, it can be said that fuel like HVO or hydro-treated vegetable oil is a renewable and sustainable source of energy. It is far better than that of traditional petrol and/or diesel. The fuel is made of fats and oils from animals and vegetables.

When you use the substances of HVO in home heating or heating commercial machines it can release lower levels of pollutants and toxins. This fuel can be stored in an existing tank of fuel whether it is of plastic or other metal. However, you need to work on proper upkeep of the tank.For the residential and commercial operations that need fuel for heating the machines, the use of HVO can be a good choice. This is the time when the people of the globe are trying to use more sustainable and green energy sources, and HVO fuel can be a great choice for them.