group1_algae_and_biodiesel

8/7/2019 Group1_Algae_and_Biodiesel

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Biodiesel From MicroalgaeA Solution for a Sustainable San Luis Obospo

County

Mike Sass

Eric Amendt

Ryan Gleim

Tim McLenegan

Tim Whitacre

April 29, 2005


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Outline

Biodiesel from algae

Feasibility of algae Oil collection and refining

Application to our county


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Algae Overview

Tim McLenegan

Eric Amendt


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Algae and Biodiesel

Algae Biodiesel is a good replacement for

standard crop Biodiesels like soy and canola Up to 70% of algae biomass is usable oils

Algae does not compete for land and spacewith other agricultural crops

Algae can survive in water of high saltcontent and use water that was previouslydeemed unusable


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Storing the Suns Energy

(Photosynthesis)

What is needed

Sunlight CO2

Nutrients

Storage of Energy Lipids and oils

Carbohydrates

http://www.veggievan.org/downloads/articles/Biodiesel%20from%20Algae.pdf


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What affects oil production?

Climate

Cold weather reduces algae oil production Overcast days reduce sunlight and lower oil

production

Nutrients

Depletion of Nitrogen and Silicate


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Controlling Nutrients

Nitrogen

Aids in cell division Silicate

Aids in cell wall production

Depleting Nutrients Starving the algae of these two nutrients reduce the rate of

cell division

Oil production remains constant

Results in an increase in the oil to mass ratio


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The Algae Pond



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Mass Production of Algae



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Choosing an Algae

Importantcharacteristics of Algae

High % of total biomassis oil

Maintains a high % of oileven under stress

Compatible with the San

Luis Obispo climate

www.kluyvercentre.nl/content/ documents/Verslag2biodieselBaarnschLyceum.pdf -


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What Type of Algae

Botryococcus braunii

Converts 61% of itsbiomass into oil

Drops to only 31% oilunder stress

Grows best between 22-25

oC (71-77

oF)

www.kluyvercentre.nl/content/ documents/Verslag2biodieselBaarnschLyceum.pdf -


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Where To Grow It

Extensions onto our water treatment plants Clean up our waste and generate fuel

Agriculture runoff Exploit the countys many farms and vineyards

Soda Lake Salt lake east of Santa Margarita

Vast open space of Carrizo Plain Only has water in winter/spring months

National Monument status may prevent development


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Feasibility

Tim Whitacre


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Feasibility

Is it too good to be true? DOE concluded a 16-year study of algal biomass in 1996

(and wrote a 328-page report) http://www.nrel.gov/docs/legosti/fy98/24190.pdf

Conducted large-scale tests in California, New Mexico andHawaii With good temperatures, could harvest 50 grams of algae per

sq. meter per day Used a 1,000 m2 pond for 1 year

Research stopped due to budget cuts

UNH paper may hopefully rekindle research

With more research/funding, it can be done


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Comments from NREL

Projections for future costs of petroleum are a

moving target. DOE expects petroleum costs toremain relatively flat over the next 20 years.Expecting algal biodiesel to compete with suchcheap petroleum prices is unrealistic. Without somemechanism for monetizing its environmental benefits

(such as carbon taxes), algal biodiesel is not goingto get off the ground.


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Comments from NREL

Engineering design and cost studies have been donethroughout the course of the ASP, with ever increasing realism

in the design assumptions and cost estimates. The last set ofcost estimates for the program was developed in 1995. Theseestimates showed that algal biodiesel cost would range from$1.40 to $4.40 per gallon based on current and long-termprojections for the performance of the technology. Even withassumptions of $50 per ton of CO2 as a carbon credit, the cost

of biodiesel never competes with the projected cost ofpetroleum diesel.


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http://futures.tradingcharts.com/chart/CO/M

$ Per Barrel


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Show Me The Money!!!

The current price of diesel is growing

What does this mean forBiodiesel?


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Michael Briggs of University of New

Hampshire

Production ability

37,500 gallons per hectare of desert land per year Pond construction

$80,000 per hectare

Operating Costs

$12,000 per hectare


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NREL results

Benemann and Oswald (1996)

Capital Investment

$69,000 to $104,400 per hectare Operating Costs

$21,370 to $32,320 per hectare per year

Algal Oil Costs $39 to $69 per barrel

$0.93 to $1.65 per gallon

16,000 to 32,000 gallons per hectare per year


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Cost per hectare


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Processing Costs

$0.30 to $1.00 per gallon

Without taxes or profit Michael Briggs

$0.32 per gallon of biodiesel

Real World

$1.23 - $2.65 per gallon of biodiesel


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San Luis Costs

The startup costs per processing plant would

be the same as noted in the fall presentationon Biodiesel.

$15,000,000 per 30,000,000 gallon plants.

Our research shows that the cost per algal

pond would be greater.


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Assuming $0.10 profit per gallonTotal Costs

eturn

nn estm ent

-$100,000,000

$0

$100,000,000

$200,000,000

$300,000,000

$400,000,000

$500,000,000

$600,000,000

$700,000,000

$800,000,000

2005

2007

2009

2011

2013

2015

2017

2019

2021

2023

2025

2027

2029

2031

2033

2035

2037

2039

2041

2043

2045

2047

2049

Year

allonsan

one

Total Cap Cost

Gallons a year

Total Prof it

Red/

lack


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Oil Collection and Refining

Mike Sass


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Pressing oil from the algae

Dry the algae and press the oil from it.

Can retrieve up to 70% of the oil. While drying must prevent the algae from

becoming contaminated.

Cheapest and simplest method


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http://forums.biodieselnow.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3414

Chemical Oil Extraction

Use hexane solvents to remove the oil.

Hexane is a neurotoxin. Must be careful when using.

Removes oil out of almost all things.


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http://www.organix.net/organix/supercritical.htm

Super Critical Oil Extraction

Most efficient method.

Uses carbon dioxide at critical pressure andtemperature (CO2 is almost a liquid).

Carbon dioxide.

Rapid diffusion of the oil.

Very expensive process.


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http://www.nrel.gov/docs/legosti/fy98/24190.pdf

TAG (triacylglycerol)

Three chains of fatty acids attached to a glycerol

Natural oil from the algae


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http://www.nrel.gov/docs/legosti/fy98/24190.pdf

Transesterification

Start with triacylglycerol

(TAG) End up with ester

alcohol (biodiesel)


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http://biodiesel.org/pdf_files/fuelfactsheets/Production.PDF

Three ways to produce biodiesel

Base catalyzed transesterification with

alcohol. Acid catalyzed esterification with methanol.

Convert the oil to fatty acids. Then acidcatalyze to alkyl esters.


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http://biodiesel.org/pdf_files/fuelfactsheets/Production.PDF

Base Catalyzed with Alcohol

Most common process

Most economical Low pressure (20psi)

Low temperature (150oF)

No intermediate steps High conversion rate (98%)


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Application To Our County

Ryan Gleim


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RTA

Current County Bus System

CCAT and SCAT6

#

#

38,178.08 5

104,170.11 18

TotalGas TG Gas For All Busses for months

of Busses NB

Gallons per Bus GPB

Gallons per Day per Bus GPD

Gallons per Acre per year GPA

of Acres required A

SCAT gallons for Busses

CCAT gallons for Busses

TG S

! !

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

! ( ) ( )

( ) ( )

CAT gallons CCAT gallons

NB SCAT busses CCAT busses

!


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Biodiesel Requirements

Using Biodiesel in current diesel busses

2( ) 2(142348.19)43.8( )

6500

2( ) 2(142348.19) 21.9( )13000

TGA acres

GPA

TGA acresGPA

! ! !

! ! !


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Diesel Hybrid

GM Hybrid Bus


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http:www.gm.com/company/adv_tech/300_hybrids/index_bus.html

Hybrid Bus Statistics

GM Hybrid Bus

EP

system Clean Hybrid technology

Hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide reduction ofabout 90%

Nitrous oxide reduction of about 50% Already in service in many cities

Up to 60% improved fuel economy


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Calculations Adjusted

Using Biodiesel in HYBRID diesel busses

60% 0.60

2( ) 2(142348.19)(1 0.60) 17.5( )

6500

2( ) 2(142348.19) (1 0.60) 8.8( )13000

Hybrid fuel usage i prove ent

TGA acres

GPA

TGA acres

GPA

! !

! ! !

! ! !


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Conclusion

Algae is a very efficient means of producing

biodiesel The oil production from algae farms is

feasible and scalable

Further research necessary to unlock full

potential of algae


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Questions

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