Posted on 01/29/2009 4:59:41 AM PST by MAD-AS-HELL
The first real-world, demonstration-scale project in Nevada for turning algae into biofuel has successfully completed the initial stage of research at the University of Nevada, Reno. The project is on track to show the process is an economical, commercially viable renewable energy source in Nevada.
(Excerpt) Read more at unr.edu ...
This could be a great and inexpensive source for future fuel to drive our cars. Unfortunately, congress will do all it can to probably kill it to keep the pork rolling to ADM.
Bring it on.
The corn ethanol scam will never end even if better ways are found to produce bio fuels. It’s a handout to corn farmers and once a govt handout is in place it will never end. Never. We’ll be zipping around in our Mr Fusion powered skycars a 100 years from now and there will still be a line item in the budget for ethanol corn farmers.
This is how one does renewable energy...
When they come out with procedures to make DME (Dimethelether) they can have a chemical for fuel, feedstock for many processes and no more muzzy oil!
I’ve been pondering a low cost algae production facility that would be suited for about anywhere south of the Mason-Dixon line. It needs a few key elements, which have simple explanations.
Start by imagining the furrows in a plowed farmer’s field. Widen the rows to a few feet each. Then put shallow troughs in an accordion pattern in the rows, so that “gray” (low quality) water entering the first trough will exit through the last trough.
A mechanical cleaner runs the length of each trough, preventing algae build ups on the walls of the trough, so the algae flows to the end of the trough with the water that is flowing through it.
At the bottom of each trough are perforated tubes that bubble waste CO2 and Nitrous Oxides (NOx) gases through the water, radically stimulating algae growth. Such tubes are used to bubble oxygen through swimming pools to sterilize them instead of chlorine, so they are common.
To further trap the waste CO2 and NOx gases in the troughs, they should be covered with “self cleaning” clear glass. This is a new innovation using nanotechnology to coat ordinary glass, so that dust and water does not stick to it or stain. This also keeps out unwanted alien algae that would contaminate the water.
As the water exits the troughs, the algae is harvested from it, and mechanically moved for processing into biodiesel, with the remainder used for animal fodder. The water is first recycled, to remove any toxins or remaining gases, then a percentage is diverted to a cooling area, to help maintain the optimal temperature for algae growth.
Ideally, such an algae farm would be located near industries that produce waste CO2 and NOx gases, and may or may not process the algae vegetable oil (as much as 50%, by weight), on site to produce biodiesel.
The biodiesel itself is produced by mixing the vegetable oil with some ethanol and lye, then filtering the result. Typically, it is then blended with 1% petroleum diesel as a preservative, but more may be added based on the application.
It has really taken off hasn't it. Why don't you try living in the real world.
We would rather grow cows here in Nevada than grow some gunk to eat.
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