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Fuel Testing Facility
The fuel injection systems implemented on modern diesel engines require that Biodiesel fuel meet ridged specifications to prevent damage to the injectors and comply with manufacturer’s warranties. All of the fuel produced by the proposed biodiesel refinery must be certified according to ASTM D-6751 before being released to the general public or used in JMU/Harrisonburg’s fleet vehicles. Additionally, any biodiesel produced by the Alternative Fuels Research Program must also be validated according to these specifications. External Laboratories offer a complete line of ASTM certified fuel testing for a nominal charge ranging from $1,000 - $1,500 per sample. Economically, it makes sense to purchase the testing equipment and conduct the tests on site. In addition to testing the fuel produced by the proposed refinery and the Alternative Fuels Research Program, JMU would then be able to offer fuel testing services and ASTM certification for external producers of biodiesel, thus providing an additional source of revenue to support the Alternative Fuels Research Program. The total cost for the equipment required is $500,000.
