Methodology
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Analysis of Biofuels as Renewable Energy Alternative Vickie Sheree Durrah, RET Fellow 2009 A.O. Sexton Elementary School RET Mentor: Dr. Andreas Linninger, PhD Chicago Science Teacher Research (CSTR) NSF - RET Program Methodology Students will… Communicate prior knowledge of crude oil and its role in the global energy crisis. Distinguish renewable energy and nonrenewable energy. Define sustainability. Identify the basic techniques employed in production of biofuels. Conduct a laboratory experiment testing a model fuel cell car. Discuss the pros and cons of biofuels. NSF Grant EEC - 0743068 Dr. Andreas Linninger, RET Director & Mentor UIC Dr. Gerardo Ruiz, RET Program Manager- UIC Sukhi Basati Deepika Govind, REU Conclusions Teaching Module Acknowledgements Introduction Background Motivation ~ 90 of our energy needs derived from fossil fuels ~ 90 of our energy needs derived from fossil fuels More than half of the crude oil we consume is imported More than half of the crude oil we consume is imported ~ 7 billion barrels crude oil consumed in U.S. annually = ~ 7 billion barrels crude oil consumed in U.S. annually = main producer of CO main producer of CO 2 Decreased supply, increased demand contributes to Decreased supply, increased demand contributes to inflated prices for oil inflated prices for oil Global depletion of fossils fuels at a faster rate than Global depletion of fossils fuels at a faster rate than new ones are formed new ones are formed Objective Objective Analyze biomass as sustainable alternative in the Analyze biomass as sustainable alternative in the production of “green” biofuels production of “green” biofuels Biomass Saccharification: extraction of sugar from cell wall; specifically, lignin and cellulose and hemicellulose; ex: energy crops, corn, and sugar cane. Hydrolysis: breaking down complex sugars converting them into simple sugars C C 6 H H 12 12 O O 11 11 + H + H 2 0 0 C C 12 12 H H 22 22 O O 11 11 (starch) (amylase) (starch) (amylase) (maltose) (maltose) Fermentation: the conversion of the simple sugars to ethanol when bacteria feeds on sugar C 6 H 12 O 6 2 C 2 H 5 OH + 2CO 2 (sugar) (alcohol) (carbon dioxide gas) • 1 acre corn = 183 bushels = 420 gallons bioethanol • Annual U.S. Capacity: 8.2 billion gallons bioethanol = 3.0 billion bushels corn Lignocellulosic Biomass: any organic material derived from plants; lignin and complex carbohydrates, or cellulose found in the cell wall; includes energy and starch crops, wood based products and residuals, animal manures and algae. • 1.3 billion tons biomass available in trees and plants • 1 acre grasses & wood crops = ~ 5 dry tons biomass Biomass Gasification (BTL): extraction of energy to convert biomass to synthesis gas CO, H, CH 4 • Pyrolysis: combustion of biomass at high temperatures to produce syngas: C + ½ CO 2 CO • Water-Gas Shift Reaction: CO + H 2 O ↔ CO 2 + H 2 Fischer Tropsch Synthesis (GTL): conversion of syngas via biomass gasification to liquid hydrocarbons in production of hydrogen for fuel cell cars and electricity; involves carbon capture and sequestration; applied with gasification: CO + 2H 2 - CH 2 + H 2 O • Alcohol Synthesis Syngas hydrocarbons methanol diesel/gasoline/jet fuels CO 2 + 2H 2 CH 3 OH • Steam Methane Reforming hydrogen (endothermic & exothermic) CO shift conversion: CO + H 2 O ↔ CO 2 + H 2 • FT products includes hydrocracking of CH 4 for H, parrafins, olefins • Capacity: 1 million dry tons biomass per year = 4400 barrels FT fuels Gasification & Fischer Tropsch Synthesis Transesterification: conversion of triglyceride oil from soybeans or vegetable oils, animal fats to free fatty alkyl esters - diesel and glycerin by reacting with methanol •Simplified Reaction Triglycerides + Fatty Acids (<4%) + Alcohol Alkyl esters + glycerin • 1 acre soybeans = 42.6 bushels = 60 gallons biodiesel Annual U.S. Capacity: 450 million gallons = ~ 275 million bushels of soybeans Biofuel processing pathways is costly and complex. Energy intensive processing of biomass. Biomass is optimal in production of all “green” transportation fuels. Biomass gasification coupled with FT synthesis is currently the optimal technology for small scale clean production of “green” fuels. Fossil fuels,the primary energy source for the U.S. and global economies, are consumed at astronomical rates, contributing to pollution, increased greenhouse gases and global warming. Annual population growth and increased industrialization has contributed to U.S. consumption, creating a demand for renewable energy sources to eliminate reliance on crude oil. Research as shown promise in burning lignocellulosic biomass, inedible organic plant material and wastes products to production of efficient and renewable energy by extracting energy, complex carbohydrates from lignin in the cell wall to produce green liquid transportation liquids - biofuels, ethanol, methanol, hydrogen and diesel. The processes required to produce these fuels involve a highly complex conversion of biomass to liquids (BTL) and gases to liquid (GTL). This evaluative tool serves to highlight the optional biomass processing pathways to produce biofuels: biomass saccharification, pyrolysis, gasification, Fischer Tropsch Synthesis (FT), and transesterification to determine the optimal technique for sustainable energy options.
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Analysis of Biofuels as Renewable Energy Alternative Vickie Sheree Durrah, RET Fellow 2009 A.O. Sexton Elementary School RET Mentor: Dr. Andreas Linninger, PhD Chicago Science Teacher Research (CSTR) NSF - RET Program. Introduction Background. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Methodology
Analysis of Biofuels as Renewable Energy Alternative Vickie Sheree Durrah, RET Fellow 2009
A.O. Sexton Elementary School RET Mentor: Dr. Andreas Linninger, PhD
Chicago Science Teacher Research (CSTR) NSF - RET Program
Methodology
Students will…
Communicate prior knowledge of crude oil and its role in the global energy crisis.
Distinguish renewable energy and nonrenewable energy.
Define sustainability.
Identify the basic techniques employed in production of biofuels.
Conduct a laboratory experiment testing a model fuel cell car.
Discuss the pros and cons of biofuels.
NSF Grant EEC - 0743068
Dr. Andreas Linninger, RET Director & Mentor UIC
Dr. Gerardo Ruiz, RET Program Manager- UIC
Sukhi Basati
Deepika Govind, REU
Conclusions Teaching Module Acknowledgements
Introduction Background Motivation ~ 90 of our energy needs derived from fossil fuels~ 90 of our energy needs derived from fossil fuels
More than half of the crude oil we consume is importedMore than half of the crude oil we consume is imported
~ 7 billion barrels crude oil consumed in U.S. annually = main producer of CO~ 7 billion barrels crude oil consumed in U.S. annually = main producer of CO22
Decreased supply, increased demand contributes to inflated prices for oilDecreased supply, increased demand contributes to inflated prices for oil
Global depletion of fossils fuels at a faster rate than new ones are formedGlobal depletion of fossils fuels at a faster rate than new ones are formed
ObjectiveObjective Analyze biomass as sustainable alternative in the production of “green” biofuelsAnalyze biomass as sustainable alternative in the production of “green” biofuels
Biomass Saccharification: extraction of sugar from cell wall; specifically, lignin and cellulose and hemicellulose; ex: energy crops, corn, and sugar cane.
Hydrolysis: breaking down complex sugars converting them into simple sugars CC66HH1212OO1111 + H + H220 0 C C1212HH2222OO1111
(starch) (amylase) (maltose)(starch) (amylase) (maltose)
Fermentation: the conversion of the simple sugars to ethanol when bacteria feeds on sugar C6H12O6 2 C2H5OH + 2CO2
(sugar) (alcohol) (carbon dioxide gas)
• 1 acre corn = 183 bushels = 420 gallons bioethanol
• Annual U.S. Capacity: 8.2 billion gallons bioethanol = 3.0 billion bushels corn
Lignocellulosic Biomass: any organic material derived from plants; lignin and complex carbohydrates, or cellulose found in the cell wall; includes energy and starch crops, wood based products and residuals, animal manures and algae.
• 1.3 billion tons biomass available in trees and plants
• 1 acre grasses & wood crops = ~ 5 dry tons biomass
Biomass Gasification (BTL): extraction of energy to convert biomass to synthesis gas CO, H, CH4
• Pyrolysis: combustion of biomass at high temperatures to produce syngas:
C + ½ CO2 CO
• Water-Gas Shift Reaction: CO + H2O ↔ CO2 + H2 Fischer Tropsch Synthesis (GTL): conversion of syngas via biomass
gasification to liquid hydrocarbons in production of hydrogen for fuel cell cars and electricity; involves carbon capture and sequestration; applied with gasification: CO + 2H2 - CH2 + H2O
• Alcohol Synthesis
Syngas hydrocarbons methanol diesel/gasoline/jet fuels CO2 + 2H2 CH3OH • Steam Methane Reforming hydrogen (endothermic & exothermic)
CO shift conversion: CO + H2O ↔ CO2 + H2
• FT products includes hydrocracking of CH4 for H, parrafins, olefins
• Capacity: 1 million dry tons biomass per year = 4400 barrels FT fuels
Gasification & Fischer Tropsch Synthesis
Transesterification: conversion of triglyceride oil from soybeans or vegetable oils, animal fats to free fatty alkyl esters - diesel and glycerin by reacting with methanol
•Simplified Reaction
Triglycerides + Fatty Acids (<4%) + Alcohol Alkyl esters + glycerin
• 1 acre soybeans = 42.6 bushels = 60 gallons biodiesel
Annual U.S. Capacity: 450 million gallons = ~ 275 million bushels of soybeans
Biofuel processing pathways is costly and complex.
Energy intensive processing of biomass.
Biomass is optimal in production of all “green” transportation fuels.
Biomass gasification coupled with FT synthesis is currently the optimal technology for small scale clean production of “green” fuels.
Fossil fuels,the primary energy source for the U.S. and global economies, are consumed at astronomical rates, contributing to pollution, increased greenhouse gases and global warming. Annual population growth and increased industrialization has contributed to U.S. consumption, creating a demand for renewable energy sources to eliminate reliance on crude oil. Research as shown promise in burning lignocellulosic biomass, inedible organic plant material and wastes products to production of efficient and renewable energy by extracting energy, complex carbohydrates from lignin in the cell wall to produce green liquid transportation liquids - biofuels, ethanol, methanol, hydrogen and diesel. The processes required to produce these fuels involve a highly complex conversion of biomass to liquids (BTL) and gases to liquid (GTL). This evaluative tool serves to highlight the optional biomass processing pathways to produce biofuels: biomass saccharification, pyrolysis, gasification, Fischer Tropsch Synthesis (FT), and transesterification to determine the optimal technique for sustainable energy options.
