Blending biodiesel with diesel fuel in cold locations

An in-line method of producing a bright and clear blend of biodiesel in which biodiesel is blended into diesel fuel that is below 20° F. comprising:

• providing a heated tank of 100% biodiesel and an unheated tank of diesel fuel;
• moving heated biodiesel through a first conduit from the heated tank to a first injection point;
• moving unheated diesel fuel through a second conduit to a second injection point;
• diverting a portion of the diesel fuel into a third conduit prior to the second injection point, wherein the third conduit comprises an in-line heater, wherein the third conduit joins the first conduit at the first injection point, and wherein a first blend is produced at the first injection point, and further wherein the first blend is at a temperature above the Cloud Point of the first blend;
• and
• moving the first blend through the first conduit to the second injection point such that the first blend is blended with the unheated diesel fuel to produce a bright and clear biodiesel blend.

A rack system for blending and loading biodiesel into tank trucks in a cold environment comprising:

• a heated tank for holding biodiesel;
• a first injection point;
• a second injection point;
• a first conduit providing a fluid connection from the heated tank to the first injection point and comprising a valve for controlling flow of liquid from the heated tank through the conduit;
• a second conduit providing a fluid connection from a source of unheated diesel fuel to the second injection point;
• a third conduit in fluid connection to the second conduit between the source of unheated diesel fuel and the second injection point, connecting the second conduit to the first injection point, and wherein the third conduit comprises an in-line heater;
• a fourth conduit fluidly connecting the first injection point and the second injection point;
• a fifth conduit fluidly connecting the second injection point with a load arm for loading a biodiesel blend into a tank truck;
• and
• an automated control system configured to control the concentrations of biodiesel in the blends at the first and second injection points and the temperature of the heated diesel fuel in the third conduit prior to entering the first injection point.

A rack system for blending and loading biodiesel into tank trucks in a cold environment comprising:

• a heated tank for holding biodiesel;
• a first injection point;
• a second injection point;
• a first conduit providing a fluid connection from the heated tank to the first injection point and comprising a valve for controlling flow of liquid from the heated tank through the conduit, and further comprising an in-line heat exchanger;
• a second conduit providing a fluid connection from a source of unheated diesel fuel to the second injection point;
• a third conduit in fluid connection to the second conduit between the source of unheated diesel fuel and the second injection point, connecting the second conduit to the first injection point, and wherein the third conduit passes through the heat exchanger of the first conduit configured for an exchange of heat between fluids in the first conduit and fluids in the third conduit;
• a fourth conduit fluidly connecting the first injection point and the second injection point;
• a fifth conduit fluidly connecting the second injection point with a load arm for loading a biodiesel blend into a tank truck;
• and
• an automated control system configured to control the concentrations of biodiesel in the blends at the first and second injection points and the temperature of the heated diesel fuel in the third conduit prior to entering the first injection point.