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Ethanol Fuel

Ethanol Fuel. SPEAR April 13, 2009. Industrial Production. glucose production. fermentation. distillation. dehydration. Plants Make Glucose. Photosynthesis 6CO 2 + 6H 2 O + light → C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6O 2 Common sources Corn Sugarcane. Fermentation. glucose → ethanol

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Ethanol Fuel

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  1. Ethanol Fuel SPEAR April 13, 2009

  2. Industrial Production glucose production fermentation distillation dehydration

  3. Plants Make Glucose • Photosynthesis • 6CO2 + 6H2O + light → C6H12O6 + 6O2 • Common sources • Corn • Sugarcane

  4. Fermentation glucose → ethanol C6H12O6 → 2C2H6O + 2CO2 + heat

  5. Distillation & Dehydration Removes water

  6. Industrial Production glucose production fermentation distillation dehydration

  7. Combustion • Glucose is burned to generate heat that drives pistons • C2H6O + 3O2 → 2CO2 + 3H2O + heat

  8. Overall Reaction light → heat renewable energy source!

  9. Ethanol-Only Engines • Comparable fuel economy • Pure ethanol-only engines cannot use gasoline • Max blend = E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline)

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. Problems and Solutions • Tariff restricts importing cheaper ethanol • Sen. Gregg & Sen Feinsteinn introduced measure to remove tariff • Importing cheaper ethanol would lower price further

  13. 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

  14. Sources / More Information • Wikipedia: “Ethanol Fuel” • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_fuel • “Ethanol: Myths and Realities” • http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/may2006/tc20060519_225336.htm • “NH Sen. Gregg introduces measure on ethanol tariff” • http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D970KG082.htm • “Poet, Magellan to study ethanol pipeline” • http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D96V88700.htm

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