Ethanol Fuel
SPEARApril 13, 2009
Industrial Production
fermentation
distillation
dehydration
glucose production
Plants Make Glucose
• Photosynthesis– 6CO2 + 6H2O + light
→ C6H12O6 + 6O2
• Common sources– Corn– Sugarcane
Fermentationglucose → ethanol
C6H12O6 → 2C2H6O + 2CO2 + heat
Distillation & Dehydration
Removes water
Industrial Production
fermentation
distillation
dehydration
glucose production
Combustion
• Glucose is burned to generate heat that drives pistons
• C2H6O + 3O2 → 2CO2 + 3H2O + heat
Overall Reaction
light → heat
renewable energy source!
Ethanol-Only Engines
• Comparable fuel economy• Pure ethanol-only engines cannot use
gasoline• Max blend = E85 (85% ethanol, 15%
gasoline)
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
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
Problems and Solutions
• Tariff restricts importing cheaper ethanol
• Sen. Gregg & Sen Feinsteinn introduced measure to remove tariff– Importing cheaper ethanol would lower
price further
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
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