Re: BioC: Help - liquid biofuel for power generation

[Tom Jeffries <twjeffri@facstaff.wisc.edu>]

>Dear All,
>
>I am doing some research on alternative fuels used in electricity
>generation  and after looking at DOE and EPA web page, i.e., nrel, eren,
>ott, ect, I thought that you could help me with the questions which I can't
>seem to work out. well to the questions then it are as following:
>1. What kind liquid biofuel could be produced from energy crops and could
>be used for power generation? (methanol?)

You would not want to generate a liquid fuel for power generation -- 
you would combust the biomass in such a way as to either recover the 
energy directly or convert it into a synthesis gas for liquid fuel. 
Liquid fuel has much greater value for transport than the solid fuel.

2. Could the biofuel (methanol?) be shipped oversea by oil tanker?

>no one would do this, it does not make sense

>3. What are the related technologies?

Direct combustion and cogeneration of electricity and synthesis gas.

>4. Is there any conceptual figure or schematic diagram existed?

No. Not to my knowledge.

>If you can give the answer then please can you put it as much detail as you
>can find the then it will help me more in understanding and it will be much
>appreciated.

I would suggest that you think about the utility economics of liquid 
fuels vs solid fuels.  Liquid fuels are useful because they have a 
high power density, are easily combusted and can be used for 
transportation purposes.  Just as you would not burn gasoline in an 
electrical generation plant (except in the case of portable 
generators) you would not burn ethanol or methanol in a generation 
plant.  You would use the solid fuel (biomass) to generate 
electricity and or synthesis gas and then use the liquid fuel for 
other higher value purposes.
-- 
Tom Jeffries,
Director

--------------------------------------------------
Institute for Microbial and Biochemical Technology
Forest Products Laboratory
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Madison, WI 53706
Tel: (608) 231-9453
Fax: (608) 231-9262
e-mail: twjeffri@facstaff.wisc.edu
homepage: http://www.biotech.wisc.edu/jeffries

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