Researchers: Develop Biofuels and Advanced Engines
The next generation of biofuels must be developed in conjunction with advanced combustion engines, if there is to be long-term success of those biofuels. That word comes from researchers at the Sandia National Laboratories.
The recommendations were made following a Sandia-hosted workshop held in November, Next Generation Biofuels and Advanced Engines for Tomorrow’s Transportation Needs. Participants included researchers at the Department of Energy’s Combustion Research Facility (CRF) and Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI), as well as representatives from oil companies, biofuel developers, engine manufacturers, suppliers and experts from the university, regulatory, finance and national laboratory communities.
The full report is now available online at http://www.sandia.gov/news/publications/white-papers/index.html.
The workshop, said Ron Stoltz, manager of Sandia’s Advanced Energy Initiatives, was designed to identify opportunities for co-development of biofuels and engines, an often-overlooked issue.
“The oil companies and the automobile and truck engine companies have engaged in a dialogue and collaboration on fuel and engine issues for almost 100 years,” Stoltz said. “But the same cannot be said for the majority of biofuel start-up companies, especially those that are thinking ‘beyond ethanol’. The report highlights how fragmented the biofuels industry is today and how, by putting serious thought behind some key issues like fuel chemistry linked to engine performance, great strides can be made.”
The workshop was designed to help get a dialog going between researchers and experts from industry, academia and government, with the goal to figure out how to accelerate the transition to biofuels. Those participating did agree that the next generation of biofuels needed to be clean (at or below EPA-designated pollutants criteria); sustainable (with a smaller carbon footprint than the petroleum-based fuels being displaced); and compatible with current and future engine designs, and with current and future distribution infrastructure.
The group also recommended modernizing the testing, specification, and certification of all fuels; plan and integrate the research and development of next-generation biofuels in conjunction with the development of advanced engines; develop specific guidelines, roadmaps, and objectives for co-development of next-generation biofuels and advanced engines; and convene an International Fuels and Engines Summit, sponsored by industry with government and university participation.
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Advanced BioFuels USA » Researchers: Develop Biofuels and Advanced Engines
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Bill Brandon
There are presently quite a few people “putting serious thought behind some key issues like fuel chemistry linked to engine performance”. We know a lot right now, but the EPA keeps getting in the way. We must first get a broad acknowledgment that the government’s ‘field to wheels calculations end at the fuel tank. Engine thermal efficiency is never accounted for.
The next thing to do is pick a molecule. Some will argue for a bio-crude approach preserving some value for existing oil refiners down stream assets. While we need the large oil companies because the have the Benjamins to make biofuels a wide spread reality, this approach will undoubtedly result in the wrong molecule. A lower carbon molecule is needed if we are to combat global warming.
While additional scientific research can always be helpful, I think the path way is presently before us and the problems are essentially political.
The molecule is predominately ethanol but with some blending components. The existing retail distribution system needs to be built out with blender pumps giving us a Freedom of Choice in fuels. Legacy vehicles can run well on E30 but can be re-tuned to run much better. With blender pumps in place (which could include diesel/ethanol) a variety of efficient, high performance engines could be marketed.
Other options like CNG with 8% hydrogen or DME or something similar could be good but are confronted with distribution build out.
We need to be more action oriented than research oriented.
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