group1 algae and_biodiesel
Post on 20-Feb-2017
210 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
Biodiesel From MicroalgaeA Solution for a Sustainable San Luis Obospo
County
Mike SassEric AmendtRyan GleimTim McLeneganTim Whitacre
April 29, 2005
Outline
Biodiesel from algae Feasibility of algae Oil collection and refining Application to our county
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 space
with other agricultural crops Algae can survive in water of high salt
content and use water that was previously deemed unusable
Storing the Sun’s 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
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
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
Choosing an Algae
Important characteristics of Algae
– High % of total biomass is oil
– Maintains a high % of oil even under stress
– Compatible with the San Luis Obispo climate
www.kluyvercentre.nl/content/ documents/Verslag2biodieselBaarnschLyceum.pdf -
What Type of Algae
Botryococcus braunii– Converts 61% of its
biomass into oil– Drops to only 31% oil
under stress– Grows best between 22-
25oC (71-77oF)
www.kluyvercentre.nl/content/ documents/Verslag2biodieselBaarnschLyceum.pdf -
Where To Grow It
Extensions onto our water treatment plants– Clean up our waste and generate fuel
Agriculture runoff– Exploit the county’s 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
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 and Hawaii
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
Comments from NREL
“Projections for future costs of petroleum are a moving target. DOE expects petroleum costs to remain relatively flat over the next 20 years. Expecting algal biodiesel to compete with such cheap petroleum prices is unrealistic. Without some mechanism for monetizing its environmental benefits (such as carbon taxes), algal biodiesel is not going to get off the ground.”
Comments from NREL
“Engineering design and cost studies have been done throughout the course of the ASP, with ever increasing realism in the design assumptions and cost estimates. The last set of cost estimates for the program was developed in 1995. These estimates showed that algal biodiesel cost would range from $1.40 to $4.40 per gallon based on current and long-term projections for the performance of the technology. Even with assumptions of $50 per ton of CO2 as a carbon credit, the cost of biodiesel never competes with the projected cost of petroleum diesel.”
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
NREL resultsBenemann 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
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
San Luis Costs
The startup costs per processing plant would be the same as noted in the fall presentation on Biodiesel.– $15,000,000 per 30,000,000 gallon plants.
Our research shows that the cost per algal pond would be greater.
Assuming $0.10 profit per gallonTotal Costs
Return On Investment
-$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
Year
Gal
lons
and
Mon
ey
Total Cap Cost
Gallons a year
Total Prof it
Red/Black
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
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.
http://www.organix.net/organix/supercritical.htm
Super Critical Oil Extraction
Most efficient method. Uses carbon dioxide at critical pressure and
temperature (CO2 is almost a liquid). Carbon dioxide. Rapid diffusion of the oil. Very expensive process.
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
http://www.nrel.gov/docs/legosti/fy98/24190.pdf
Transesterification
Start with triacylglycerol (TAG)
End up with ester alcohol (biodiesel)
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 acid
catalyze to alkyl esters.
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%)
RTA
Current County Bus System
CCAT and SCAT6
#
#38,178.08 5104,170.11 18
TotalGas TG Gas For All Busses for monthsof Busses NB
Gallons per Bus GPBGallons per Day per Bus GPDGallons per Acre per year GPAof Acres required A
SCAT gallons for BussesCCAT gallons for BussesTG S
( ) ( )( ) ( )
CAT gallons CCAT gallonsNB SCAT busses CCAT busses
Fuel Requirements
104170.11 38178.08 142348.19( )5 18 23
142348.19 6189.05( 6 )23
183 66189.05 33.82( )
183
TG gallonsNB
TGGPB gallons per Bus for monthsNB
Time days per monthsGPBGPD gallons per day per busTime
Biodiesel Requirements
Using Biodiesel in current diesel busses
2( ) 2(142348.19) 43.8( )6500
2( ) 2(142348.19) 21.9( )13000
TGA acresGPATGA acres
GPA
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 of
about 90%– Nitrous oxide reduction of about 50%– Already in service in many cities– Up to 60% improved fuel economy
Calculations Adjusted
Using Biodiesel in HYBRID diesel busses
60% 0.602( ) 2(142348.19) (1 0.60) 17.5( )
65002( ) 2(142348.19) (1 0.60) 8.8( )
13000
Hybrid fuel usageimprovementTGA acres
GPATGA acres
GPA
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
top related