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2
Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)
7.5 billion gallons renewable fuel in gasoline by 2012
Expand from 9 billion gallons to 36 billion gallons
Reductions in GHG emissions Encourage development of renewable
fuel sector Ethanol – recognized alternative fuel
with the immediate potential to reduce consumption of gasoline
Introduction
3
Lesson 1:Introduction to Ethanol
4
Objectives Describe what ethanol is and how to
identify it Explain the basic history of ethanol Describe how ethanol may help
public health Explain how ethanol may help
stimulate the economy Describe what energy security is and
how to use ethanol to attain it
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Ethanol is made from corn, sugarcane, wheat, other agricultural products
Ethanol can be formed through: Biochemical conversion Thermochemical conversion
Definition of Ethanol
Figure 1 (left): Sugarcane stalks, a primary source of ethanol. Source: NAFTC. Figure 2 (right): Sugar beets, another source
of ethanol. Source: NAFTC.
6
Corn = carbohydrate = high in sugars
Corn = 95% of current U.S. ethanol production
Ethanol from cellulose (woody fibers) = cellulosic ethanol
Figure 3 (left): Corn is a primary feedstock in ethanol production. Source: NAFTC. Figure 4 (right): Wood fibers for cellulosic ethanol. Source: NREL.
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Chemical Properties of Ethanol Ethyl alcohol – contains hydroxyl
group Distilled from fermented sugars Also known as “grain alcohol”
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Ethanol Color Pure ethanol is colorless When mixed with gasoline,
ethanol will take on straw yellow color
Ethanol Smell Pure ethanol is odorless As it is mixed with gasoline, ethanol
will begin to smell like gasoline
Figure 6: Inspecting a sample of ethanol. Source: NREL.
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Figure 5: Ethanol facts and figures. Source: NAFTC.
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Ethanol Blends Gasoline is added to ethanol to:
Ensure stability of the fuel system Improve cold-start characteristics Allow first responders to see the flame
in case of a fire Most FFVs run on E85
Special Note:Ethanol-blended fuels currently in the market – whether E10 or E85 – must
meet stringent federal and state tailpipe emission standards.
11
Ethanol = 35% oxygen by weight 8.5 million FFVs on U.S. roads
today E10 can be used in gasoline
vehicles with no modification
Figure 7: E10 blends are found at most fueling stations. Source: NAFTC.
12
First used as a fuel in the late 1800s
Nicholas Otto used ethanol in 1860
Henry Ford used ethanol in “Quadricycle”
Basic History of Ethanol
Figure 8: Nicholas Otto. Source: EIA.
Figure 9: The “Quadricycle” was fueled by ethanol. Source: The Henry Ford Museum.
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Did You Know?
Ethanol was used as lamp fuel in the U.S. as early as 1840, but a tax levied on industrial alcohol during the Civil War made this use uneconomical. The tax was repealed in 1906.
Source: EIA.
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Model T could operate on gasoline or ethanol
Model T = first FFV in U.S. 1930s = more than 2,000 ethanol
stations Reduced petroleum
prices led to its decline in the 1940s
Figure 10: Ford Model T. Source: NAFTC.
15
All manufacturers approve ethanolblends up to 10%
97% of all U.S. gasoline contains some ethanol
Common blend for FFVs = E85
Ethanol Today
Figure 11: E85 fueling pump. Source: NAFTC.
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Comparison to Gasoline Higher octane rating than
conventional gasoline Burns more completely – reduced
emissions More volatile than conventional
gasoline Pure ethanol contains no
carcinogenic compounds
17
Did You Know?
The personal care products industry is one of the largest users of industrial ethanol, or ethyl alcohol. Hairspray, mouthwash, aftershave, cologne, and cleaning products all contain large amounts of alcohol by volume.
Source: American Coalition for Ethanol, 2011.
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Basic Properties of Ethanol High octane = resistance to auto-
ignition Lower energy content than
conventional gasoline E85 octane = 95; pure ethanol
octane = over 99
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Figure 12: E85 stations by state. Source: AFDC.
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Ethanol is: Renewable Nontoxic Biodegradable Sulfur-free
Use produces fewer harmful emissions Ethanol production = U.S. job
opportunities Can be produced from domestic crops
Why Consider Ethanol?
21
Figure 13: Emission reductions by type. Source: DOE Biomass Program
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Advantages Energy self-sufficiency Creation of U.S. jobs Major reductions in petroleum
consumption Promotion of U.S. agricultural sector Higher octane rating
23
Figure 14: Ethanol compared to conventional gasoline. Source: Fueleconomy.gov.
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Major benefits to Health Environment Economy Energy Security Renewability
Ethanol Benefits
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Carbon monoxide emissions are responsible for up to 20% of smog formation
Ethanol/ethanol blends burn more completely, produce fewer carbon monoxide emissions
Ethanol is nontoxic, water soluble, quickly biodegradable
Ethanol use reduces both carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions
Ethanol for fuel and distillers grain
Health Benefits
26
Did You Know?
The American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago credits ethanol-blended reformulate gasoline with reducing smog-forming emissions by 25% since 1990.
Source: American Coalition for Ethanol.
27
Did You Know?
A bushel of corn weighs 56 pounds and will produce at least 2.8 gallons of ethanol and 17 pounds of distillers grain.
Source: American Coalition for Ethanol.
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Ethanol is highly biodegradable Ethanol used as vehicle fuel reduces
harmful emissions Plants used to create
ethanol absorb carbon dioxide during growth
Ethanol does not contain sulfur
Environmental Benefits
Figure 15: Sugarcane. Source: NAFTC.
29
Did You Know?
Corn ethanol reduces GHGs by 20% to 52%, while cellulosic ethanol reduces GHGs by as much as 86%.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
30
Did You Know?
After the sinking of the Bow Mariner off the Virginia coast in February 2004, the U.S. Coast Guard officials noted the cargo of 3.2 million gallons of industrial ethanol had dissipated quickly and did not pose an environmental threat to humans or marine life. In contrast, the impacts after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon – BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico are still being seen and discovered today.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
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Creation of domestic jobs Growth within U.S. agricultural
sector In 2011, ethanol industry added
more than $42 billion to U.S. GDP, supported more than 400,000 jobs
Economic Benefits
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U.S. = one of the greatest exporters of agricultural products
About half of U.S. oil used in 2010 was imported
Ethanol can be produced from domestic resources
Domestic production lessens dependence on foreign oil
Energy Security Benefits
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Ethanol’s energy balance Ethanol can be produced from renewable
biomass resources Biomass resources can be grown within
the U.S.
Renewable Benefits
Special Note:The U.S. Department of Energy and Agriculture’s Billion Ton Study found that we can grow adequate biomass feedstocks to displace approximately 30% of
current gasoline consumption by 2030 on a sustainable basis – with only modest changes in land use.
34
Did You Know?
For every barrel of ethanol produced (1 barrel = 42 gallons), 1.34 barrels of petroleum are displaced at the refinery.
Source: Information Resources, Inc.
35
Upon completing this lesson, can you: Describe what ethanol is and how to
identify it? Explain the basic history of ethanol? Describe how ethanol may help
public health? Explain how ethanol may help
stimulate the economy? Describe what energy security is and
how to use ethanol to attain it?
36
1. True or False: Pure ethanol is both odorless and tasteless.
2. True or False: Henry Ford used ethanol as a fuel for one of his first automobiles.
3. True or False: All conventional gasoline-powered vehicles can use E10 as a fuel.
4. True or False: Ethanol is made from sugarcane, corn, and rubbing alcohol.
Test Your Knowledge
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Lesson 2:Ethanol Manufacturing,
Infrastructure, and Sustainability
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Objectives Describe what ethanol is made from
– feedstock Explain how ethanol is manufactured
and produced Describe how ethanol is transported Explain how ethanol is distributed Describe the sustainability of ethanol
– its future and cost efficiency
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The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy identifies the following as renewable fuels: Biomass Geothermal Hydrogen Hydropower Ocean Solar Wind
Renewable Fuel Sources
Figure 16: Renewable Fuel Sources. Source: NAFTC.
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Feedstock – any preliminary product that can be made into a fuel
Biomass – biological or organic matter available on a renewable basis
Bioenergy – the fuels that are created as a result of converting biomass into usable energy
Renewable Fuel Sources
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Figure 17:Primary uses of U.S. corn (billions of bushels). Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.
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Corn One of America’s most abundant
agricultural products Makes up more than 90% of current
ethanol production Sugarcane
High sugar content = high fuel yield
Typically grown in South America and Asia due to climate
Renewable Fuel Sources
Figure 18: Sugarcane, often grown in Hawaii and South America, is an ideal feedstock for
ethanol. Source: NAFTC.
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Grains Various grains can be used
to produce ethanol Grains do not possess as
much sucrose as other sources
Renewable Fuel Sources
Figure 19: Various grains are also used to produce ethanol. Source: NAFTC.
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Agricultural products that are used to make ethanol are harvested, transported, fermented, distilled, and delivered
Manufacturing and Production
Figure 20: Harvesting sugarcane to produce ethanol. Source: NAFTC.
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Figure 21: Dry milling process. Source: ICM, Inc.
Dry Milling Feedstock is ground up, mixed with
water Mixture (mash)
is heated Yeast is added Product is distilled
and denatured
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Did You Know?
A modern dry-mill ethanol refinery produces approximately 2.8 gallons of ethanol and 17 pounds of highly valuable feed co-products called distillers grain from one bushel of corn.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
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Did You Know?
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the last byproduct from dry milling. Soda companies often buy this byproduct to use for carbonation in their beverages.
Source: American Coalition for Ethanol.
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More than 200 plants in U.S. alone Most located in Midwest Usually not transported
via conventional pipelines
Denaturant is added
90% transported by train or truck
Transportation and Distribution
Figure 22: Ethanol plant. Source: NAFTC.
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U.S. Department of Transportation
Placards Required on all bulk shipments Same handling requirements as
conventional fuels Avoid contact with
skin/avoid inhaling fumes/vapors
Figure 23: Hazard class 3 flammable placard for ethanol. Source: USDOT.
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Ethanol Fueling Stations More than 2,500 E85 stations in the U.S.
alone Nearly all stations use E10 blends Ethanol must be kept in tanks
made from certain materials Ethanol Fueling Safety
Features Ethanol stations utilize
the same features conventional stations use
Infrastructure
Figure 24: Ethanol fueling station pump. Source: NREL.
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Special Note:There are many federal and state tax incentives and credits to encourage the installation of E85 infrastructure and use of the fuel. For a comprehensive list of these programs, visit the State and Federal Incentives and Laws section of the AFDC at: www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/laws
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Identifying Ethanol Hazard Placards National Fire Protection Agency
requirement 3 = fuel must be preheated before
ignition 1 = fuel may cause slight to
moderate irritation 0 = fuel poses no reactivity hazards
Figure 25: NFPA 704 hazard placard for ethanol. Source: NFPA.
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Sustainability Continuation with minimal long-term
environmental effects Carbon-neutral status
Cost Efficiency Concerns with using corn for fuel
production Positive energy balance Biomass currently available for
ethanol production
Ethanol Sustainability
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Did You Know?
Ethanol production utilized the starch in 4.65 billion bushels of corn in 2010 to produce 32.5 million metric tons of high quality livestock feed, distillers grain, and corn gluten feed and meal, and 13 billion gallons of ethanol.
Source: Renewable Fuels Association.
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The Future of Ethanol 97% of all gasoline sold in the U.S.
contains some ethanol Vehicles model year 2001 or newer
can use E15 without modification
Special Note:The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA)
requires use of 36 billion gallons of renewable transportation fuels in the U.S. by 2022. Of that quantity, 16 billion gallons must be cellulosic biofuels. Ethanol from
corn is capped at 15 billion gallons.
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Upon completing this lesson, can you: Describe what ethanol is made from -
feedstock? Explain how ethanol is manufactured
and produced? Describe how ethanol is transported? Explain how ethanol is distributed? Describe the sustainability of
ethanol?
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1. True or False: In the process of dry milling, corn or another grain is ground into a flour or meal and then mixed with water to form what is called mash.
2. True or False: Ethanol has a negative energy balance.
3. True or False: E85 fuel can be stored in the same tanks and dispensed using the same pumps as conventional gasoline; but modifications may be necessary.
Test Your Knowledge
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Lesson 3:Ethanol Vehicles
(Vehicle Technology)
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Objectives Explain the differences between FFVs
vehicles and conventional vehicles Describe the components of FFVs Describe the performance of FFVs Explain how to maintain FFVs Describe the FFVs used today
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Some modifications may be needed to engine calibration and fuel management systems
Main components: Internal combustion engine (ICE) Transmission Drivetrain Fuel storage system
Transmission and drivetrain operate identically
Differences Between FFVs and Conventional Vehicles
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What is a Flexible Fuel Vehicle? Run on blends up to E85 Specialized diagnostics Specified engine calibrations
FFV Components
Figure 26 (left): Buick Regal. Source: Buick. Figure 27 (right): Ford F-150. Source: Ford.
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How Do Flexible Fuel Vehicles Work? E85 contains less energy than gasoline Vehicle computer must determine
appropriate amount of fuel
Engine Calibration Ethanol = higher octane Different compression
ratio FFV engine = same size
as conventional gasolineengine Figure 28: Flexible fuel vehicle engine.
Source: NAFTC.
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Fuel Management Systems Ethanol = highly corrosive Fuel lines, storage systems, and
injectors must accommodate this nature
Larger fuel tanks Higher octane will reduce engine
“knock”
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All gasoline vehicles Blends up to E10 are covered by
manufacturer warranties E15 for 2001 and newer vehicles Ethanol energy density vs.
gasoline density
FFV Modifications and Conversions
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Comparable to gasoline vehicles Higher octane Absorbs moisture Detergent properties Higher compression
Flexible Fuel Vehicle Performance
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Fuel must be handled with caution Transportation and storage =
safer than gasoline Less flammable than gasoline Water-soluble Biodegradable
Flexible Fuel Vehicle Safety
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Maintenance is the same as with conventional vehicles
Check on a regular basis: Battery Ignition system Spark plugs Coolant Transmission fluid Belts Hoses Air and fuel filters
Flexible Fuel Vehicle Maintenance
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FFVs serve many purposes USPS switched to FFVs in January
2000 As of 2010, the USPS FFV fleet
consumed 709,937 gallons of E85
Figure 29: Ethanol-fueled public transportation bus. Source: NREL.
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Brazil = more than 10 million FFVs, 33,000 fueling stations
By 2020, GM plans to have over 20 million FFVs on roadways worldwide
Flexible Fuel Vehicles in Use Today
Figure 30: USPS ethanol-powered vehicle. Source: NREL.
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Upon completing this lesson, can you: Explain the differences between FFVs
and conventional vehicles? Describe the components of FFVs? Describe the performance of FFVs? Explain how to maintain FFVs? Describe the FFVs used today?
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1. State two of the main differences between FFVs and conventional vehicles.
2. What enables FFVs to “read” the fuel blend being used?
3. True or False: Performance aspects of ethanol vehicles are comparable to conventional vehicles.
4. True or False: An ethanol land or water spill would be relatively harmless since the fuel would disperse and decompose very quickly.
Test Your Knowledge
