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Biomethane for Transportation: Viking 32 Hybrid Vehicle and the Vander Haak Dairy. Western Washington University Vehicle Research Institute Eric Leonhardt. Vehicle Research Institute Background Why Use Biomethane for Transportation? Challenges with Biogas Experience with Viking 32 Hybrid
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Biomethane for Transportation:Viking 32 Hybrid Vehicle and the Vander Haak Dairy Western Washington University Vehicle Research Institute Eric Leonhardt
Vehicle Research Institute Background Why Use Biomethane for Transportation? Challenges with Biogas Experience with Viking 32 Hybrid Future Direction Questions
Eric Leonhardt • Whitman College, B.A. Economics, 1991 • Western Washington University, Vehicle Research Institute, B.S. Industrial Technology, 1995 • University of Michigan, M.S. Automotive Systems Engineering, 2000 • DaimlerChrysler, CAx Research and Development • Electronic Data Systems, Manufacturing Consulting and Implementation Services
Why Use Biomethane for Transportation? Improve economics of the anaerobic digester Alternate market for gas production Provide low-cost fuel to consumers, public transportation, or farming equipment Sufficient fuel quantity Support low emission vehicles Reduce dependence imported oil
Digester Economics Relate electrical energy production to value of CH4gas • 1200 cows x 60 ft^3/CH4 per day = 72000 ft^3 day or 3000 ft^3/hour • Produce 280 kWh@$ 0.05 = $14 per hour or $336/day • Lower heating value of CH4: ~904 BTU/ft^3 with 90% CH4 • BTU per $: (904 BTU/ft^3 x 3000 ft^3/hour) / ($14/hour) Result: 193,700 BTU/$ Compare with Gasoline at $2.50/gallon (West Coast avg): 115,500 BTU/gallon * 1 gallon/$2.50 = 46,200 BTU/$ Roughly 4.2 times more energy per $ for Biomethane (193,700 BTU/$ / 46,200 BTU/$)
Whatcom County Fuel Quantity • 66,000 cows * 60 ft^3 = 3.96x10^6 ft^3/day CH4 • 3.96x10^6 ft^3 * 904 BTU/ ft^3 =3.58x10^9 BTU • 3.58x10^9 BTU / 115,500 BTU/gal (gasoline) • Result: 30,994 gallons of gasoline equivalent energy per day • Over 11 million gallons of gasoline equivalent energy per year
Biogas Challenges for Transportation • Digester biogas contains ~40% carbon dioxide • Biogas contains ~3000 ppm hydrogen sulfide • Biomethane must be compressed to 3600 psi to provide sufficient range in vehicle • Special fuel system and calibration required for biomethane or natural gas • Tank size is four times size of gasoline tank
Solution: Clean Biogas • Remove CO2 • Remove H2S • Common Industrial Process • Petroleum Refining • Wastewater Treatment • South Seattle Waste Water Treatment Facility • Tacoma Waste Water Treatment Facility
Viking 32 Objectives Challenge Partnership for a New Generation Vehicle—80 MPG “Family” vehicle Parallel Hybrid 200 HP 2000 lb curb weight 4 Seats
Viking 32 Features • Rear Drive: 100 HP Natural Gas Honda Civic 1.7 liter 4 cylinder • Front Drive: 100 HP Uniq Mobility DC Brushless Motor • Carbon fiber epoxy body and chassis • Variable ride height from 6” to 9” • 50 MPGe with Natural Gas • 44 MPGe with Biomethane
Biogas Scrubber Iron chips • Three stage process • Column of iron chips • Sodium Hydroxide 10% aqueous solution • Desiccant • 1.4 scfm pump compressed refined gas to ~1700 psi Sodium Hydroxide Desiccant
Results 93.6% CH4 850 ppm H2S ~2000 ft3 Gas Collected
Lessons Learned • Sodium hydroxide is caustic, corrodes metals and equipment • Process requires replacement of “Drano” • Must have a renewable process for 24/7 operation • High gas flow rates require significant gas compression facilities • Hydrogen Sulfide at 850 ppm is too high
Future Steps Develop a refining capacity of 7200 ft^3/day or 10% total digester flow Refine with several techniques: • MEA – monoethanolamine • Polyethylene Glycol • Iron Oxide • Biological: Thiobacillus with Oxygen
Next Generation Counter flow >80 linear feet 24”x 26” base 4” diameter PVC Modular Units Bioball media
Goals • 7200 scf biomethane, ~10% total • 15 ppm Hydrogen Sulfide • 7200 scf * 904 BTU/gal = 6.5 million BTU • Equivalent of 56 gasoline gallons equivalent per day • At 30 MPGe, 1690 miles (30 cars served) • At 40 MPGe, 2254 miles (41 cars served) • Based on 20k miles/year • At $1.50/gasoline gallon equivalent, adds $84/day or $30,660 gross per year