A Bioethanol Process Development Unit: Initial Operating Experiences and Results with a Corn Fiber Feedstock
1/1/2003
Interest in bioethanol production from lignocellulosic feedstocks for use as an alternative fuel is increasing, but near-term commercialization will require a low cost feedstock. One such feedstock, corn fiber, was tested in the US DOE/National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) bioethanol pilot plant for the purpose of testing integrated equipment operating and generating performance data. During initial runs in 1995, the plant was operated for two runs lasting 10 and 15 days each and utilized unit operations for feedstock handling, pretreatment by dilute sulfuric-acid hydrolysis, yeast inoculum production, and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation using a commercially available cellulase enzyme. Although significant operational problems were encountered, as would be expected with the startup of any new plant, operating experience was gained and preliminary data were generated on corn fiber pretreatment and subsequent fermentation of the pretreated material. Bacterial contamination was a significant problem during these fermentations.
Authors: Schell, D.J.; C.J. Riley, N. Dowe, J. Farmer, K.N. Ibsen, M.F. Ruth, S.T. Toon (NREL) R.E. Lumpkin (SWAN)
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report - December 27, 2002
12/27/2002
This is the eighth issue of the Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, a quarterly newsletter keeping you up to date on the price of alternative fuels in the U.S. and their relation to gasoline and diesel prices. This issue discusses prices that were gathered from Clean Cities coordinators and stakeholders during the weeks of October 21, October 28, and November 4, 2002, with comparisons to the prices in the previous Price Report which were collected in July, 2002.
Authors: Lott, M.
Issues Associated with the Use of Higher Ethanol Blends (E17-E24)
10/1/2002
This report reviews the issues associated with utilizing higher ethanol blends (E17-E24), and is intended to advise the Department of Energy (DOE) on factors that might encourage or constrain the integration of such blends into the marketplace. Subjects include technical vehicle issues, emissions and emissions testing, infrastructure, market issues, and regulatory and policy considerations.
Authors: Hammel-Smith, C.; J. Fang, M. Powders, J. Aabakken
Using Unmodified Vegetable Oils as a Diesel Fuel Extender: A Literature Review
9/22/2002
This paper is a review of literature concerning using vegetable oils as a replacement for diesel fuel. The term vegetable oils as used in this paper refers to vegetable oils which have not been modified by transesterification or similar processes to form what is called biodiesel. The oils studied include virgin and used oils of various types including soy, rapeseed, canola, sunflower, cottonseed and similar oils. In general, raw vegetable oils can be used successfully in short term performance tests in nearly any percentage as a replacement for diesel fuel. When tested in long term tests blends above 20 percent nearly always result in engine damage or maintenance problems. Some authors report success in using vegetable oils as diesel fuel extenders in blends less than 20 percent even in long term durability studies. Degumming is suggested by one author as a way to improve use of raw oils in low level blends.
Authors: Jones, S.; Peterson C.L.
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority: Biodiesel Fuel Comparison Final Data Report
8/15/2002
The West Virginia University measured the exhaust emissions from a Flxible Transit bus with a 1990 Cummins L10 engine operated on standard federal type-1 deisel fuel (D1), ultra-low sulfur type-1 diesel fuel (ULSD1) and on a blend of 20% biodiesel and 80% ULSD1 fuel (BD20). During the ULSD1 and BD20 tests the transit bus was equipped with an Engelhard DPX catalyzed particulate filter. The vehicle was exercised over a chassis dynamometer test cycle that was developed from data logged from WMATA buses during normal passenger service in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area. All measurements were made in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations CFR40 Part 86 Subpart N.
Authors: Donald W. Lyons
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report - August 8, 2002
8/8/2002
This is the seventh issue of the Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, a quarterly newsletter keeping you up to date on the price of alternative fuels in the U.S. and their relation to gasoline and diesel prices. This issue discusses prices that were gathered from Clean Cities coordinators and stakeholders during the weeks of July 15, July 22, and July 29, 2002, with comparisons to the prices in the previous Price Report which were collected in April, 2002.
Authors: Lott, M.
Beyond Diesel-Renewable Diesel
8/1/2002
This fact sheet explores domestically produced, renewable fuels such as biodiesel and E-diesel as possible alternatives to conventional diesel and a way to displace some of America's petroleum imports.
Diesel Emissions Control-Sulfur Effects Project (DECSE) - Summary of Reports
6/1/2002
Testing conducted by Diesel Emissions Control-Sulfur Effects (DECSE) project was designed to provide data on effects of various levels of sulfur in diesel fuels on emission control systems. Fuel composition affects engine efficiency, chemical composition of the exhaust, and the amount of a given pollutant or proportions of types of pollutants. This report summarizes the results of testing of diesel particulate filters, lean-NOx catalysts, diesel oxidation catalysts, and NOx adsorber catalysts.
Authors: Clark, W.
Lignocellulosic Biomass to Ethanol Process Design and Economics Utilizing Co-Current Dilute Acid Prehydrolysis and Enzymatic Hydrolysis For Corn Stover
5/30/2002
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is promoting the development of ethanol from lignocellulosic feedstocks as an alternative to conventional petroleum-based transportation fuels. DOE funds both fundamental and applied research in this area and needs a method for predicting cost benefits of many research proposals. To that end, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has modeled many potential process designs and estimated the economics of each process during the last 20 years. This report is an update of the ongoing process design and economic analyses at NREL. We envision updating this process design report at regular intervals; the purpose being to ensure that the process design incorporates all new data from NREL research, DOE funded research and other sources, and that the equipment costs are reasonable and consistent with good engineering practice for plants of this type. For the non-research areas this means using equipment and process approaches as they are currently used in industrial applications.
Authors: Andy Aden, Mark Ruth, Kelly Ibsen, John Jechura, Keith Neeves, John Sheehan, Bob Wallace
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report - May 10, 2002
5/10/2002
This is the sixth issue of the Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, a quarterly newsletter keeping you up to date on the price of alternative fuels in the U.S. and their relation to gasoline and diesel prices. This issue discusses prices that were gathered from Clean Cities coordinators and stakeholders during the weeks of April 15 and April 22, 2002, with comparisons to the prices in the previous Price Report which were collected in February, 2002.
Authors: Lott, M.
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report - March 28, 2002
3/28/2002
This is the fifth issue of the Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, a quarterly newsletter keeping you up to date on the price of alternative fuels in the U.S. and their relation to gasoline and diesel prices. This issue discusses prices that were gathered from Clean Cities coordinators and stakeholders during the months of January and February, 2002, with comparisons to the prices in the previous Price Report which were collected in October, 2001.
Authors: Lott, M.
Alternative Fuels in Public Transit: A Match Made on the Road
3/1/2002
As alternative fuels compete with conventional fuels for a place in public awareness and acceptance, one of their most visible applications is in public transportation. Vehicles, particularly buses and shuttles, that carry people in large numbers, stand to gain much from using alternative fuels. Such high-demand fuel users can help sustain a fueling infrastructure that supports private autos and other smaller vehicles.
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report - December 17, 2001
12/17/2001
This is the fifth issue of the Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, a quarterly newsletter keeping you up to data on the price of alternative fuels in the U.S. and their relation to gasoline and diesel prices. This issue discusses prices that were gathered from Clean Cities coordinators and stakeholders during the weeks of October 15 and October 22, 2001, with comparisons to the prices in the previous Price Report for the week of June 4, 2001.
Authors: Lott, M.