an inquiry into the nature and the cause of alternative energy sources
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An Inquiry Into the An Inquiry Into the Nature and the Nature and the
Cause of Cause of Alternative Alternative Energy SourcesEnergy Sources
Or: How I learned to stop worrying and love switch grass as an alternative fuel source
Until I realized that someone else was doing switch grass…in which case…
ENTER: ENTER: MiscanthusMiscanthus
A A MiscanthusMiscanthus Based Based SystemSystem
Tall perennial grass – 10-14 ft.Tall perennial grass – 10-14 ft.
Cellulose to ethanol by sulfuric acid Cellulose to ethanol by sulfuric acid breakdownbreakdown
Ethanol used in gasoline blends in Ethanol used in gasoline blends in automobilesautomobiles
H2SO4 aq.C6H12O6
glucose
yeast C2H5OH(aq.)
A A MiscanthusMiscanthus Based Based SystemSystem
Use Midwest’s agricultural transport Use Midwest’s agricultural transport infrastructureinfrastructure
1 acre miscanthus = 500 gal ethanol1 acre miscanthus = 500 gal ethanol Stalks can be harvested yearly, 10 year Stalks can be harvested yearly, 10 year
crop-rotation cyclecrop-rotation cycle
Masher Pu
mp
1. Cellulose rich material and water are combined to create a slurry. Process depending, temperatures can be raised up to 200°C
2. A strong acid is added to the mixture, breaking up the cellulose molecules by hydrolysis
3. A series of reactors and separators break down the cellulose and separate out nonsalable materials
4. Waste products can be recovered or used as a heat source for other parts of the process
5. Fermentation converts the aqueous glucose molecules to ethanol
6. A flash unit and/or a distillation column can be used to separate the ethanol from the water
CELLULOSE
WATER
ACID
ETHANOL
The Processing of Cellulose into Ethanol
How much can you get?How much can you get? Since miscanthus grows so tall, you can Since miscanthus grows so tall, you can
achieve upwards of 6 tons/acre/year.achieve upwards of 6 tons/acre/year.
Miscanthus uses a C4 photosynthesis cycle Miscanthus uses a C4 photosynthesis cycle which means longer growing seasons and a which means longer growing seasons and a larger range of places to grow it.larger range of places to grow it.
Miscanthus is mostly composed of cellulose Miscanthus is mostly composed of cellulose per unit mass, which means more ethanol per unit mass, which means more ethanol production after fermentation.production after fermentation.
Is it worth it?Is it worth it? Potentially reduce greenhouse gas Potentially reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by 70-90% per car mile emissions by 70-90% per car mile traveledtraveled
Energy output-input ratio ~1.6Energy output-input ratio ~1.6
Large capital startup costs – not known Large capital startup costs – not known full cost of commercial productionfull cost of commercial production
Good for the environment!Good for the environment!
Comparison to Current Comparison to Current TechnologyTechnology
140 Billion gal of gasoline used per year in U.S.
To reduce that by 10% using E85, would require 21 Billion gallons of ethanol from cellulose
Need 42 million acres or 66,000 sq. mi of Miscanthus plants ~ the size of Oklahoma!
Miscanthus = Miss Miscanthus = Miss Kansas?Kansas?
Miss Kansas Miscanthus Production
1. Energy from the sun is stored by plants in the form of Glucose which is in turn stored as starch or cellulose - miscanthus is cellulose rich
2. Miscanthus can be harvested, baled, and processed, removing moisture to allow further utilization
3. Chopped up miscanthus can be burned outright or treated to create cellulosic ethanol
ReferencesReferences Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy – U.S. Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy – U.S.
Department of Energy Department of Energy http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/
National Renewable Energy Laboratory National Renewable Energy Laboratory http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/thermochemical_convershttp://www.nrel.gov/biomass/thermochemical_conversion.htmlion.html
Scurlock, J.M.O. A Review of European Experience Scurlock, J.M.O. A Review of European Experience with a Novel Energy Crop with a Novel Energy Crop http://bioenergy.ornl.gov/reports/miscanthus/toc.htmlhttp://bioenergy.ornl.gov/reports/miscanthus/toc.html
Blue Flame Ethanol, Inc. Blue Flame Ethanol, Inc. http://www.bluefireethanol.comhttp://www.bluefireethanol.com
Arkenol, Inc. www.arkenol.com Arkenol, Inc. www.arkenol.com Miscanthus Research Project at the University of Miscanthus Research Project at the University of
Illinois http://www.miscanthus.uiuc.edu/Illinois http://www.miscanthus.uiuc.edu/
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