Project files
Purpose
The Farm-Scale Oil Extraction project seeks to implement sustainable uses of meal and oil from oilseed crops that provide energy security, control the cost of production for crops and livestock, and help circulate money in the local economy.Partners
Activities
This project was initiated by canola growers in the Roseau area who had an interested in biodiesel production on the farm. The Wannaska Renewable Energy project operated the Komet cold oil press onsite in the fall of 2007.
In spring of 2008, the press was moved to UM Crookston campus. Jade Estling, UM Crookston, Ag Systems Management student, shows the canola feedstock, the resulting oil, and the Komet press in the background.
Several tests of the meal, oil and biodiesel were conducted throughout the spring. See these links for nutritional analysis, fuel pellet characterization, straight vegetable oil and biodiesel characterization. Northwest Manufacturing in Red Lake Falls conducted a test burn of canola pellets in February 2008, a project supported by the NW CERT team. The results are compared to corn and wood pellets.
Canola meal from the press has 16 to 19% fat, and contains 8700 BTU/lb. Cost comparison for several common residential heating sources are summarized project files.
The test burn was conducted at Northwest Manufacturing using EPA Method 28 for testing fuels. See http://www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/promgate/m-28.pdf Results of the test burn include fuel characterization data, emissions data and observations of fuel handling.
