This will be wonderful if it pans out. Making bio-fuel from algae just sounds right. I vaguely remember someone saying you could make diesel from algae. I'll believe it when I fill up the tank. This guy better not get Tuckered like all those other folks with magic energy cures.
2008-08-26
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
3 comments:
The question is not "Is it possible?", the question is "Is it possible to do so at a price competitive with conventional diesel fuel?" Generally speaking, the answer is usually no. Anything you can burn, you can convert to Diesel but the process is energy intensive and expensive. The process, called Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis, was first developed by Nazi Germany in the waning days of the war. It was a viable process for them at the time because they could not GET oil to refine conventionally, so it was the only game in town.
In general terms the feedstock, be it trash, coal, dried algae, whatever, is incompletely burned. The gasses, consisting of hydrogen, CO, and CO2, are known in the industry as "synthesis gas". These gases are then reacted with a catalyst resulting in the production of synthetic hydrocarbon liquids (alkanes).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fischer-Tropsch_process
Actually it's a gas, alcohol gas that is. Read "Alcohol can ge a gas" available at knowledgepublications.com
Energy to make this is not as big a problem as the naysayers make it out to be. The sun shines daily and the winds blows regularly. Put this to work freely to supply the energy needs. You can use this also to crack hydrogen from water for fuel as well. Yes I know the sun doesn't shine at night and the wind doesn't blow all the time, so what. It can be used for free regularly. I also know the set up cost exist, but it cost less and less as you make more product. For large scale plants you can use nuclear energy from small plant on site. Look in gazmag.com for 20'by 65' self contained plants. These plants are also ideal for shale oil production. They last 20-25 years before they must be refueled. Safety is not an issue do to their design. The only real issue is NIMBYism.
Ken
Post a Comment