SWEP Programme 2022/2023 Petroleum Engineering - Recycling Used Engine Oil PDF

S W E P P R O G R A M M E 2 0 2 2 / 2 0 2 3 P E T R O L E U M E N G I N E E R I N G TOPIC :RECYCLING USED ENGINE OIL DR. OLABODE OLUWASANMI 8/2/2023 Sample Footer Text 1  OUTLINE DEFINITION OF EN...

S W E P P R O G R A M M E 2 0 2 2 / 2 0 2 3 P E T R O L E U M E N G I N E E R I N G TOPIC :RECYCLING USED ENGINE OIL DR. OLABODE OLUWASANMI 8/2/2023 Sample Footer Text 1  OUTLINE DEFINITION OF ENGINE OIL USES OF ENGINE OIL MANAGING, REUSING, AND CYCLING USED ENGINE OIL Recycling Used Oil and Oil Filters PROS AND CONS OF RECYCLED ENGINE OIL RELEVANCE IN ENGINEERING.  DEFINITION Motor oil, engine oil, or engine lubricant is any one of various substances used for the lubrication of internal combustion engines. They typically consist of base oils enhanced with various additives, particularly anti-wear additives, detergents, dispersants, and, for multi-grade oils, viscosity index improvers. In addition to the aforementioned basic constituents, almost all lubricating oils contain corrosion and oxidation inhibitors. Motor oil may be composed of only a lubricant base stock in the case of non-detergent oil, or a lubricant base stock plus additives to improve the oil's detergency, extreme pressure performance, and ability to inhibit corrosion of engine parts. Motor oils are blended using base oils composed of petroleum-based hydrocarbons, polyalphaolefins (PAO), or their mixtures in various proportions, sometimes with up to 20% by weight of esters for better dissolution of additives.  USES OF ENGINE OIL Motor oil is a lubricant used in internal combustion engines, which power cars, motorcycles, lawnmowers, engine-generators, and many other machines. In engines, there are parts which move against each other, and the friction between the parts wastes otherwise useful power by converting kinetic energy into heat. It also wears away those parts, which could lead to lower efficiency and degradation of the engine. Proper lubrication decreases fuel consumption, decreases wasted power, and increases engine longevity. Lubricating oil creates a separating film between surfaces of adjacent moving parts to minimize direct contact between them, decreasing frictional heat and reducing wear, thus protecting the engine. In use, motor oil transfers heat through conduction as it flows through the engine. In an engine with a recirculating oil pump, this heat is transferred by means of airflow over the exterior surface of the oil pan, airflow through an oil cooler, and through oil gases evacuated by the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system. While modern recirculating pumps are typically provided in passenger cars and other engines of similar or larger in size, total-loss oiling is a design option that remains popular in small and miniature engines. The main function of motor oil is to reduce friction and wear on moving parts and to clean the engine from sludge (one of the functions of dispersants) and varnish (detergents). It also neutralizes acids that originate from fuel and from oxidation of the lubricant (detergents), improves the sealing of piston rings, and cools the engine by carrying heat away from moving parts.  MANAGING, REUSING, AND RECYCLING USED OIL Basic Information on Handling Used Oil at Home If you are one of the many people who change their own motor oil, you too need to know how to properly manage the used oil. After all, used oil from one oil change can contaminate one million gallons of fresh water — a years’ supply for 50 people! When handling used oil, be sure to take these key points into consideration: Used motor oil is insoluble, persistent, and can contain toxic chemicals and heavy metals. It’s slow to degrade. It sticks to everything from beach sand to bird feathers. It’s a major source of oil contamination of waterways and can result in pollution of drinking water sources. MANAGING, REUSING, AND RECYCLING USED OIL Basic Information on Handling Used Oil at Home Are you a “Do-It Yourselfer” —do you change the oil in your car at home? On average, about four million people reuse motor oil as a lubricant for other equipment or take it to a recycling facility. If you plan to recycle your used oil, take care not to spill any when you collect it and place it in a leak-proof can or container. Check with local automobile maintenance facilities, waste collectors, and government waste officials to see when and where you can drop off your used oil for recycling. Don’t forget to drain and recycle used oil filters as well—usually you can drop off the filters at the same collection centers where you deposit used oil. THE BENEFITS OF REUSING AND RECYCLING USED OIL Recycling and reusing used motor oil is preferable to disposal and can provide great environmental benefits. Recycled used motor oil can be re-refined into new oil, processed into fuel oils, and used as raw materials for the petroleum industry. Used oils such as engine lubrication oil, hydraulic fluids, and gear oils used in cars, bikes, or lawnmowers can pollute the environment if they are not recycled or disposed of properly. Used oil must be managed properly by local waste management authorities or automotive repair shops to prevent contaminating the environment. Used oil filters pose similar waste concerns. If properly drained, they can be safely recycled or disposed. Some of the many reasons to reuse and recycle used oil include: Recycling used oil keeps it from polluting soil and water. Motor oil does not wear out—it just gets dirty—so recycling it saves a valuable resource. Less energy is required to produce a gallon of re-refined base stock than a base stock from crude oil. One gallon of used motor oil provides the same 2.5 quarts of lubricating oil as 42 gallons of crude oil.  RECYCLING USED OIL AND OIL FILTERS Used oil can be re-refined into lubricants, processed into fuel oils, and used as raw materials for the refining and petrochemical industries. Additionally, used oil filters contain reusable scrap metal, which steel producers can reuse as scrap feed. So, how is used oil recycled? Note that the most preferred option, re- refined oil—must meet the same stringent refining, compounding, and performance standards as virgin oil for use in automotive, heavy-duty diesel, and other internal combustion engines, and hydraulic fluids and gear oils. Extensive laboratory testing and field studies conclude that re-refined oil is equivalent to virgin oil—it passes all prescribed tests and, in some situations, even outperforms virgin oil. The same consumers and businesses that use regular oil also can use re-refined oil, since re-refining simply re-processes used oil into new, high-quality lubricating oil. Any vehicle maintenance facilities, automobile owners, and other machinery maintenance operations that use oil also can use re-refined oil. In some cases, fleet maintenance facilities that use large volumes of oil arrange to reuse the same oil that they send to be re-refined—a true closed recycling loop.  PRO’S Job creation Recycling used oil is one of the ways of creating jobs in an economy. The recycling process is tedious and needs specialized equipment. For this to happen effectively and efficiently, companies are started to collect, process and recycle the used oil. Used oil recycling companies, for example, employ people for a large range of positions. They will need high level scientists to assess the oil products to ensure that they can produce useful and easy to use products. Reduced emissions Recycling used oil is one of the great ways of reducing carbon emissions from the environment. As a source of energy, used oil is more efficient and burns more efficiently with less carbon emissions. Used oil is already broken down and has impurities. This means that it will burn faster and with less smoke. Conserve resources Recycling used oil means that there are fewer crude oil barrels being extracted from the ground. This means that the earth will not be strained by the activities that take place to extract more oil from the ground. By reusing oil, we are able to keep soil and water clean and productive. This means that as the world we can get clean and nourishing food.  PRO’S Saves energy costs Oil does not expire. It is changed or replaced only once it is too dirty to effectively serve its purpose. As a source of energy, used oil is cheaper and even more effective. When you compare the amount of oil required to power a household for 24 hours between used oil and original oil, you will discover that a smaller amount of used oil is required. Alternative uses Another benefit accrued from recycling used oil is that it can be used for other purposes. Once you change oil from your car or bike, you can use it as a lubricant for areas in your house that need lubrication. You can use it to help grease frozen in locks during snowy winter and lubricate your garage doors for a long life. It is also used to blend fuels and as an alternative energy source for homes, mechanical machines and factories. Saves on human resources When oil is reused, this means that it does not end up in landfills. This also means that municipal waste managers will require less man-hours to sort out waste. In addition, there won’t be water pipelines that need to be unclogged due to dirty used oil. Reusing oil also ensures that harsh chemicals are not used on roads or the ground to clean up poorly disposed motor oil. This also helps lower the costs of working on drainage systems and cleanups.  PRO’S Helps in technological research When we recycle used oil, it is applied for different purposes. For instance, it can be used as a source of energy or a fuel for cars. For it to be used effectively and efficiently, there is need for research and the manufacture of new engines or machines that can use the recycled oil As a result, this research helps in the development of technology that allows for the use of used oil and helps improve the environment. As more and more companies that process used oil are started, there will be more ways discovered that used oil can be used. Conclusion Used oil is a beneficial product. It helps improve the environment which means that people have better food and thus health. With more recycling companies comes more jobs and further research into the uses of used oil. These benefits and others show why we all need to seriously consider recycling used oil.  CONS OF RECYCLED OIL The other pitfalls of using a reclamation service will largely depend on the reclamation company that is used. Investigate the quality of each company being considered and verify all references. If not, you may end up with an oil that damages your machinery. The risk of cross-contaminated oil is high if the reclamation service does not flush its equipment after every use. In addition, if the company does not have the appropriate permits to transport your oils to its facility and there is a spill or incident, you could be liable. Keep in mind that the reclaimed oil is no longer the oil you purchased from the distributor but is now blended oil. Check the warranty details of the reclamation service for what to do if you have any issues with the oil. Also, ensure that the warranty on your machinery is not voided by using reclaimed oil.  WAY FORWARD Germany has been working fervently toward nationwide proper disposal of used oil since their 1986 Waste Avoidance and Management Act.37 This Act introduced the principle that waste avoidance and recycling should be given precedence over disposal. The law created the foundation for what is now called product responsibility, whereby the petroleum industry became responsible for the free collection and proper environmentally compatible disposal of used oil from consumers. Every store that sells new oil must accept return of equivalent quantities of used combustion engine or gearbox oil, free of charge. The outlets must also clearly display signs in their windows, indicating that such a return policy exists. All combustion engine and gearbox oil can now only be sold accompanied by this message: “This oil must be returned to a used oil collection center at the end of its useful life. Improper disposal of used oil poses a risk to the environment! The addition of other products such as solvents, brake fluid and coolant is prohibited.  WAY FORWARD Illegal disposal and blending of oil with harmful chemicals such as PCBs were greatly reduced as a result of the act. The illegal disposal of hazardous waste is liable to severe penalties, which increases the probability that people will observe the law. California’s Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) has undertaken several steps to overcome the barriers to properly disposing of used motor oil. CIWMB does so through a statewide network of collection opportunities and outreach efforts to inform and motivate the public to recycle used oil. The major goals of the program include providing Californians with convenient collection locations for used oil, increasing the demand for re-refined oil, motivating residents to recycle their used oil and providing grants to local governments, nonprofit organizations and for research and demonstration projects.  WAY FORWARD The city of Los Angeles, California, has an education and ordinance program designed to encourage DIY (Do it yourself) oil changers to dispose properly of their used motor oil. The public outreach includes a mass-media campaign consisting of point-of-purchase displays and in-store floor graphics, public service announcements and radio spots, and billboard and bus shelter displays. In addition to public outreach for older males, school children from elementary to high school age were also targeted. At the high school level, students learned in shop class and through journalism projects tips for proper disposal of used oil and stormwater pollution prevention. 62 In addition, through high school newspapers, the city conducted an advertising campaign.  USED MOTOR OIL DISPOSAL PILOT The above pilots reveal several important elements of an effective used oil collection program. The collection program must be understood by DIYers, they need to be provided with free containers to collect used oil, collection of the used oil must be convenient, and there should be strong disincentives for improper disposal. Each of these elements is discussed below. Education: As demonstrated by the CIWMB research, residents, not surprisingly, are unlikely to participate if they are unaware of the program. In addition, level of acculturation was found in California to be an important barrier to participation. As a consequence, it is suggested that the onus of education be placed upon the stores that sell motor oil. Further, it is suggested that they be mandated to provide culturally appropriate information on how and where to dispose of used motor oil. Collection Containers: In addition to providing information on the proper disposal of used oil, retail outlets should also distribute free containers that can be used for used oil collection. Further, these containers should provide motivational information on the importance of recycling oil, as well as information regarding curbside collection.  USED MOTOR OIL DISPOSAL PILOT Convenient Collection: It is suggested that curbside collection of used motor oil be provided and be supplemented with requiring that every retail outlet that sells oil be mandated to collect used motor oil. Further, these stores should be required to clearly advertise that used oil can be dropped off at their store. Fines: Finally, to discourage illegal dumping of motor oil, significant fines should be established and advertised. Further, the public should be encouraged to report illegal dumping of motor oil through a 1-800 line. Encouraging the public to provide information on illegal dumping may serve as an effective deterrent, as it substantially increases the perception that an individual may be caught illegally disposing of motor oil. It is suggested that two concurrent pilots be conducted to test their relative impacts on oil disposal.  USED MOTOR OIL DISPOSAL PILOT Strategy 1: In the first strategy, retail clerks inform residents who are purchasing oil of the importance of properly disposing of their used oil. Further, the retail clerks provide free collection containers in addition to informing customers that oil can be collected at the curbside along with their recyclables. Strategy 2: The second strategy is identical to the first, however, the stickers on the side of the free recycling containers will also indicate that individuals who illegally dump used motor oil are subject to significant fines and provides a 1-800 number to report illegal dumpers. The addition of fines in Strategy 2 will allow the importance of enhancing motivation to properly dispose of used motor oil to be determined.