According to Kinder-Morgan, an Energy Infrastructure Company of the USA, “Hydrocarbons are a million times more energy dense than wind or solar energy. That means less materials, mining, manufacturing, and land area to provide the equivalent energy output compared to any alternative source of energy“.
Moreover according the the US Dept of Energy “Biofuels burn cleaner than gasoline resulting in fewer greenhouse gas emissions and are fully biodegradable, unlike some fuel additives in gasoline. Cellulosic ethanol has the potential to cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 86%“.
Imagine the deserts of the world blooming with plants like the Jatropha from which biofuels could be extracted and processed from their oil seeds [References 4,5,6]. Imagine the world being weaned off fossil fuels [Reference 4]. Imagine the developing countries profiting from this technology and reducing their dependence on imported fossil fuels [References 7,8]. The use of biofuels in the Ceramic Rotary Engine could make this a reality.
The cost and greenhouse gas emissions per unit bioethanol produced are quantified and compared to the performances of first- and second-generation biofuel production technologies. The mathematical models for the biofuel supply chain using three different biomass types are proposed. A numerical case study based on the State of Missouri in the United States is implemented. The results of the case study show that a co-fermentation based supply chain can effectively address the concern of food versus fuel competition of corn sourced supply chain and the issues of low sugar yield, high energy footprints, and high unit cost of corn stover sourced supply chain [Reference 9].
Biodiesel is nontoxic and biodegradable. Compared to petroleum diesel fuel, which is refined from crude oil, biodiesel combustion produces fewer air pollutants such as particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrocarbons, and air toxics. Nitrogen oxide emissions from burning a gallon of biodiesel may be slightly higher than emissions from burning a gallon of petroleum diesel [Reference 10].
As the Ceramic Rotary Engine operates at high temperatures, it should be possible to burn a variety of biofuels more readily and efficiently in this engine [Reference 7,11].
REFERENCES:
(1) https://www.kindermorgan.com/Energy-Realities/Hydrocarbons
(2) https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwi34N-95oGEAxVWk2oFHZdhAy0QFnoECA4QAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.energy.gov%2Farticles%2Fbiofuels-greenhouse-gas-emissions-myths-versus-facts-0&usg=AOvVaw0ivU1Ml0dDghPg5dh5z43o&opi=89978449
(3) https://www.wcfchandlers.com/blog/harnessing-green-power-exploring-hydrotreated-vegetable-oil-fuel
(4) http://www.sgbiofuels.com/
(5) https://www.epa.gov/environmental-economics/economics-biofuels
(6) https://poet.com/about?page=research
(7) https://www.carsdirect.com/green-cars/the-advantages-of-biofuels-over-fossil-fuels
(8) https://farm-energy.extension.org/jatropha-biodiesel-and-more/
(9) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306261919319221
(10) https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/biofuels/biodiesel-and-the-environment.php
(11) https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/hybrid-electric/a638/2690341/