BioFuel Kicks ######, BioFuel Sucks ######

GreyFlcn

In short, I'm just gonna rant in this thread about
1. What kicksass about BioFuel
2. What sucksass about BioFuel

Reason?
The Democrats and Republicans are agreeing on BioFuel policy.
<a href="http://nbb.grassroots.com/07Releases/SOU07/" target="_blank">http://nbb.grassroots.com/07Releases/SOU07/</a>

Why is that an issue?
Because the proposed implementation could easily be worse than doing nothing.
(Almost entirely focused on Soy BioDiesel, Corn Ethanol, and Cellulosic Ethanol)

According to this study from UC Berkeley:
<a href="http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/July05/ethanol.toocostly.ssl.html" target="_blank">http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/July05...costly.ssl.html</a>
<a href="http://petroleum.berkeley.edu/papers/Biofuels/NRRethanol.2005.pdf" target="_blank">http://petroleum.berkeley.edu/papers/Biofu...thanol.2005.pdf</a>
Ethanol: corn requires 29 percent more fossil energy than the fuel produced;
Ethanol: switch grass requires 45 percent more fossil energy than the fuel produced; and
Ethanol: wood biomass requires 57 percent more fossil energy than the fuel produced.
BioDiesel: soybean plants requires 27 percent more fossil energy than the fuel produced, and
BioDiesel: sunflower plants requires 118 percent more fossil energy than the fuel produced.

Needless to say, that doesn't include all the Infrastructure and R&D development inputs neccisary to switch over to an Ethanol based infrastructure.
Thats just the ongoing production deficit.

BioDiesel on the other hand, offers up the chance of switching to it with virtually no change to existing infrastructure.
<a href="http://www.insidegreentech.com/node/290" target="_blank">http://www.insidegreentech.com/node/290</a>
<a href="http://biodiesel.rain-barrel.net/ormat-biodiesel/" target="_blank">http://biodiesel.rain-barrel.net/ormat-biodiesel/</a>


_

This study mentions:
<a href="http://oakhavenpc.org/cultivating_algae.htm" target="_blank">http://oakhavenpc.org/cultivating_algae.htm</a>
For the mere price of $46.2 Billion dollars
We could for-go the cost of $100150.0 Billion dollars spent on Oil every year.
By switching to Algae based BioDiesel

Even if this study is 100x off the mark, thats still a huge savings.
If it's 3x larger, thats a Trillion dollar savings, every year.
Thats quite a bit of leeway.

_

Willie Nelson, the Texas Country singer now runs his own franchise of BioDiesel stations
<a href="http://www.wnbiodiesel.com/products.html" target="_blank">http://www.wnbiodiesel.com/products.html</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WZSyikeWc8" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WZSyikeWc8</a> (Trails off into tangents after 4:52)

The Truckers love it, can't get enough of it.
<a href="http://www.biotrucker.com/testimonials/" target="_blank">http://www.biotrucker.com/testimonials/</a>

8 Trucking lines are now in the process of a trial run of using 20% BioDiesel
<a href="http://www.biotrucker.com/news/stories/20061106_ISADecker.asp" target="_blank">http://www.biotrucker.com/news/stories/200...6_ISADecker.asp</a>

GreyFlcn

MIT Scientist Explains how they harvest Algae using PowerPlant exhaust as food.
<a href="http://www.greenfuelonline.com/stage/gf_files/GFHowDoesItWork.rm" target="_blank">Right Click, Save As</a>

GreyFlcn

<b>Downsides of BioDiesel:</b>
The short of it is, at 20% concentration there is only 1 problem

It cleans engines, which can initially be a problem in older vehicles,
Since the accumulated gunk will loosen up and can clog the fuel filter.
The Fuel Filter can <a href="http://www.cdxetextbook.com/video/video/repfuelfilter.wmv" target="_blank">cheaply and easily be replaced</a>.

All the other issues are not issues at 20% concentration.

However they are obliterated at 100% concentration assuming this production method is real.
<a href="http://www.insidegreentech.com/node/290" target="_blank">http://www.insidegreentech.com/node/290</a>

_

Used in high concentrations it can degrade natural rubber seals and pipes.
Synthetic Rubber, No problem.
At 20% concentration, No problem.
Rubber seals/pipes <a href="http://www.chevron.com/products/prodserv/fuels/diesel/documents/elastomer_chevron_tb_2005Aug.pdf" target="_blank">are already being replaced </a> due the currently growing mandate to use petrolium based Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel.

It has to be treated to deal with freezing weather. (just like Diesel #2)
Usually by adding kerosene. (just like Diesel #2)

It burns hotter than normal Diesel
This causes no issue at <a href="http://www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels/npbf/news.html" target="_blank">20% concentration</a>
At 100% purity it can release 10% more Smog Emmisions (NOx)
(All other emmision types are dramatically lower)
This can be easily fixed by using a Smog Filter technology
BlueTec type 1, currently is the best option for large vehicles.
It uses an odorless nontoxic synthetic ammonia fluid to break down the NOx into harmless N2 and H2O
Issue with that is that the tank needs to be refilled every 2,400 miles.
Because of this, BlueTec type 1 is currently only legal in 45 US States. (New York and California for instance don't allow it)
In 2008 BlueTec type 2 is expected to make it's debut
Where it captures, stores, and treats the NOx emmisions using a system that requires no inputs.
Volkswagon, has already announced their 2008 Diesel Jetta will be using this technology

It has less energy content than normal Diesel #2
Something like 1%-8% less (As compared to Ethanol which gets 33% less than Gasoline)
But it gets better mileage, which easily makes up the difference.
Also it gets has better energy content than Diesel #1
<a href="http://www.biodiesel.org/pdf_files/fuelfactsheets/BTU_Content_Final_Oct2005.pdf" target="_blank">Note: Normal Diesel has an energy variability of up to 15%</a>

GreyFlcn

Using 20% BioDiesel offers these reduced emmisions:
-12% Particulate Matter (Smoke/Dust)
-12% Carbon Monoxide
-20% Unburned Petrolium Fumes
-20% Sulfates (-97% or more when using Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel)
-15% Life Cycle Carbon Dioxide

Lofung

i recommend you to read the recent National Geographic where theres an full article discussing on biofuels

GreyFlcn

Maybe

But many of them are too close minded on their feed stocks, and considering energy effeciency over economics.

This one for instance is quite intriguing.

Out of conventional sources, Palm Oil is the highest at 650 gal/acre/year
Soy Beans the lowest, but most common, at 29-50 gal/acre/year

One that I was looking at today is the Chinese Tallow tree.
It puts out 500 gal/acre/year
One problem with it is that it grow <a href="http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/alert/alrtsapi.html" target="_blank">perhaps, too well.</a>
It might be banned in certain area's because it's a highly successful invasive species.
For instance, it can reach full maturity in 2 years. And get 5 feet tall in 1 year.
And produce 10,000 oil nuts a year.

Palm Oil also has it's problems since it tends to be grown in areas with rain forests.
And they tend to get chopped down to grow them.

Avacado is kind of an interesting one at 282 gal/acre/year for California usage
Since they already grow plenty of em, and they don't have issues with being invasive, or destroying rain forests.
.... But I really do like Avacado in my sandwiches.

GreyFlcn

Oh fun times.
Finding out that N2O is a major leading contributor to global warming.

And where's the largest input of it?
Agriculture.

Why?
Synthetic Nitrogen based fertilizers.

Whichs are used on?
Corn and Soy Beans

"We should grow more Corn and Soy Beans to offset global warming"
<img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/confused-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="???" border="0" alt="confused-fix.gif" />

GreyFlcn

Upon further research

The Chinese Tallow tree is actually 699 gal/acre/year
Where as Palm Oil is only 635 gal/acre/year

Among the non-algae group, this one looks like a winner
<a href="http://www.esrla.com/pdf/tallow.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.esrla.com/pdf/tallow.pdf</a>

Side products are "waxy oils" for natural soap
<a href="http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=35527" target="_blank"> nontoxic antifreeze</a>
The flower nectar can be used for making masive ammounts of baking quality honey.
And a dozen or so medical remedies.
It also can be used for feed for sheep/cattle/goats/chickens, using it's nut husks, and it's leaves

"Honey produced from Chinese tallow is reported to be similar in quality to that derived
from goldenrod (Solidago spp.), but having more body, and is usually sold as “bakery grade”.
Though it lacks certain aspects of richness and complexity in palatability, tallow tree honey can
be produced copiously and has proven to be an economic boon to beekeepers. In 2004,
beekeepers in honey-producing states were paid $1.24 per pound for unprocessed, extracted
“extra light amber” Chinese tallow honey, for quantities in excess of 10,000 pounds (USDA,
2004). In an article published in the American Bee Journal, Hayes (1979) states “(The Chinese
tallow tree)… has become the most successful tree nectar source ever introduced into the United
States.”"

GreyFlcn

Gah....
I'm spazzing out reading this.

Either it's a hoax,
Or it's a huge step forward.....

Essentially this company claims to have made a new type of BioFuel
That solves all the problems with BioFuels....

It's not BioDiesel, BioEthanol, or BioMethanol
Runs in Gasoline and Diesel engines.
Can be freely mixed with BioDiesel or Ethanol.
And supposidly gains 3x the ammount of usable oil than BioDiesel.
Has a side product of a performance natural 7-3-7 fertlizer
Refined in minutes, not hours
With a production cost of just 50cents a gallon
Burns at a temperature lower than diesel producing less Smog
Provides a BTU value equal to Diesel
Doesn't freeze, even in -90F weather
Doesn't have any corrosion issues
And is currently made from Soy Beans

<a href="http://www.insidegreentech.com/node/290" target="_blank">http://www.insidegreentech.com/node/290</a>
<a href="http://www.ussec.us./research-20.html" target="_blank">http://www.ussec.us./research-20.html</a>
<a href="http://www.ussec.us/news-76.html" target="_blank">http://www.ussec.us/news-76.html</a>