Avaliação do potencial econômico, ambiental e tecnológico da aplicação de altos teores de biodiesel de óleo e gordura residual no diesel utilizado em uma frota veicular do setor de mineração

Abstract

The use of renewable energy sources for the production of alternative fuels can significantly mitigate issues associated with energy security, environmental problems and the reduction of pollutant gas emissions, contributing to reduce the use of fossil fuels and leveraging the production of biofuels. Thus, the objective of this thesis was to evaluate the economic, environmental and technological potential of biodiesel from residual frying oil, added to diesel at levels higher than that already established by Law (B13), for use in a vehicle fleet in the mining sector. Initially, it was possible to identify possible biodiesel suppliers for the mining company that would use residual frying oil as a raw material. The cost of acquiring biodiesel and the distance between the biorefinery and the mining company were assessed. The definition of the ideal mixture to be used in the on-site tests was carried out through the use of different levels of diesel / biodiesel mixtures (10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%) in a diesel engine mounted under a stationary dynamometer, using five different speeds (1000, 1100, 1250, 1500 and 1750 rpm) at full load (100%). After the definition of the best diesel / biodiesel content, the mixture was tested in the mining company's vehicle fleet. Six vehicles were used, three of them fueled with commercial diesel (S10, with 10% biodiesel) and another three with the B50 fuel mixture (50% biodiesel / 50% diesel). The economic, environmental and technological assessment of the process of changing the mining company's internal energy matrix was carried out through the analysis of scenarios and the impact assessment (PEIR method) that served as the basis for the systems dynamics. The simulation and validation of the use of this biofuel in the light of the three dimensions was performed using the Vensim PLE software. From the results obtained, it was possible to conclude that the feasibility of using residual frying oil biodiesel in the mining company's internal energy matrix. The vehicles did not present any significant problems and did not need any modification to use the new mixture. In addition, the use of residual oil as a raw material brings an environmental contribution, minimizing contamination of rivers and soil by using a residue to generate clean energy. In economic terms, a reduction in fuel costs was observed when a biofuel from a low-cost raw material was used, which is reflected in the final price of the fuel.