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Published byGregory Wilkinson Modified over 9 years ago
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Ethanol Fuel SPEAR April 13, 2009
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Industrial Production fermentation distillation dehydration glucose production
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Plants Make Glucose Photosynthesis – 6CO 2 + 6H 2 O + light → C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6O 2 Common sources – Corn – Sugarcane
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Fermentation glucose → ethanol C 6 H 12 O 6 → 2C 2 H 6 O + 2CO 2 + heat
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Distillation & Dehydration Removes water
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Industrial Production fermentation distillation dehydration glucose production
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Combustion Glucose is burned to generate heat that drives pistons C 2 H 6 O + 3O 2 → 2CO 2 + 3H 2 O + heat
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Overall Reaction light → heat renewable energy source!
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Ethanol-Only Engines Comparable fuel economy Pure ethanol-only engines cannot use gasoline Max blend = E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline)
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Problems and Solutions Can’t be transported in gasoline pipeline – Picks up impurities – Increased transportation costs Poet LLC and Magellan Midstream Partners LP are looking into building a 1,700-mile ethanol-only pipeline in the US
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Problems and Solutions Contains less energy & is more expensive than gasoline – High energy consumption to produce – Less energy refilling the gas tank more often Processing methods continuously being improved – Less energy to produce by new methods – Higher energy content ethanol & lower prices
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Problems and Solutions Tariff restricts importing cheaper ethanol Sen. Gregg & Sen Feinsteinn introduced measure to remove tariff – Importing cheaper ethanol would lower price further
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Problems and Solutions Increased cost of food as more crops are used for ethanol instead of food New source “crops” are being looked into – Sugarcane – Cellulose sources
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Sources / More Information Wikipedia: “Ethanol Fuel” – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_fuel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_fuel “Ethanol: Myths and Realities” – http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content /may2006/tc20060519_225336.htm http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content /may2006/tc20060519_225336.htm “NH Sen. Gregg introduces measure on ethanol tariff” – http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D 970KG082.htm http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D 970KG082.htm “Poet, Magellan to study ethanol pipeline” – http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D 96V88700.htm http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D 96V88700.htm
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