Ethanol, myths and realities

[dmccarty]

Its interesting that as I search for infomation I get various value but the trend seems to be as Richard says. The process is improving and we are getting more gallons per bushell.

My other question, is how many gallons of oil can I get per acre so I can run the truck and tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Looks like I need 5 bushels to get a gallon of corn oil. So then I need 15 to 30 acres of corn! YIKES! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Might have to by a gas truck and tractor!

/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Later,
Dan

 

[dmccarty]

Its interesting that as I search for infomation I get various value but the trend seems to be as Richard says. The process is improving and we are getting more gallons per bushell.

My other question, is how many gallons of oil can I get per acre so I can run the truck and tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Looks like I need 5 bushels to get a gallon of corn oil. So then I need 15 to 30 acres of corn! YIKES! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Might have to by a gas truck and tractor!

/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Later,
Dan

 

[cowboydoc]

Dan,

There is an article someplace and I will try and find it that shows how you can take an acre or two of corn and convert that to alcohol to run your car and have enough to run a corn stove and provide all of your energy needs for the year.

 

[cowboydoc]

Dan,

There is an article someplace and I will try and find it that shows how you can take an acre or two of corn and convert that to alcohol to run your car and have enough to run a corn stove and provide all of your energy needs for the year.

 

[Egon]

Just for interest; ethanol has a higher octane content than most gasolines. This means a higher compression ratio engine could be used witch should give better effiency.

From a guessing aproach I would assume that engine design and and the ethanol/gas mix would have to be complimentary to each other. ???

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Egon]

Just for interest; ethanol has a higher octane content than most gasolines. This means a higher compression ratio engine could be used witch should give better effiency.

From a guessing aproach I would assume that engine design and and the ethanol/gas mix would have to be complimentary to each other. ???

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[kcarl]

E85 will damage the material used to seal the cast aluminum. Meters are cast aluminum.

 

[kcarl]

E85 will damage the material used to seal the cast aluminum. Meters are cast aluminum.

 

[slowrev]

E85 will damage the material used to seal the cast aluminum. Meters are cast aluminum.
//

Perhaps, but why has GM been makeing some of their vehicles to run on E85 then ?

 

[slowrev]

E85 will damage the material used to seal the cast aluminum. Meters are cast aluminum.
//

Perhaps, but why has GM been makeing some of their vehicles to run on E85 then ?

 

[cowboydoc]

Not only GM but several models of Ford now run on E85. It's standard for the 2006 F-150's.

 

[cowboydoc]

Not only GM but several models of Ford now run on E85. It's standard for the 2006 F-150's.

 

[kcarl]

Cast aluminum is porous and has to be impregnated with a sealant to contain gasoline. High concentrations of Ethanol deteriorates the sealant currently used in meters. A different sealant is applied for E85. I'm not sure what changes car manufacturers make with regard to metals and other materials. Extruded aluminum (tubing) make not have the same porosity issues as cast .

 

[kcarl]

Cast aluminum is porous and has to be impregnated with a sealant to contain gasoline. High concentrations of Ethanol deteriorates the sealant currently used in meters. A different sealant is applied for E85. I'm not sure what changes car manufacturers make with regard to metals and other materials. Extruded aluminum (tubing) make not have the same porosity issues as cast .

 

[dmccarty]

Here are some more energy in/out numbers. The WSJ is having a battle of editorials vs letter to the editor over ethanol production. The Executive Director of the Renewable Energy Policy Project, whoever they are, said it takes 35,000 BTUs to create a gallon of ethanol with about 82,000 BTU.

There is more to it than that of course. There are by products from ethanol production that can be sold as well as the fuel. I think I read somewhere in this that some of the by products are used to create the energy to make the ethanol. I would guess that the cost to create the ethanol BTU is less than the price of the ethanol BTU that is sold.

How many acres do I need to plant?
Can I do this with a JD4700? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I know where two old combines are sitting and rotting. one a JD and the other a MF. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Should I work out a deal?

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Later,
Dan

 

[dmccarty]

Here are some more energy in/out numbers. The WSJ is having a battle of editorials vs letter to the editor over ethanol production. The Executive Director of the Renewable Energy Policy Project, whoever they are, said it takes 35,000 BTUs to create a gallon of ethanol with about 82,000 BTU.

There is more to it than that of course. There are by products from ethanol production that can be sold as well as the fuel. I think I read somewhere in this that some of the by products are used to create the energy to make the ethanol. I would guess that the cost to create the ethanol BTU is less than the price of the ethanol BTU that is sold.

How many acres do I need to plant?
Can I do this with a JD4700? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I know where two old combines are sitting and rotting. one a JD and the other a MF. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Should I work out a deal?

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Later,
Dan

 

[cowboydoc]

Dan,

Off of every bushel of corn produced the company here where I live sells nearly that same bushel in cattle feed. NONE of the "experts" figure in the "other" products as to reducing the cost of production of ethanol. They only figure in the absolute costs of the production of the bushel of the corn and the absolute costs of getting that one gallon of ethanol. Nevermind the fact that the "waste" products from ethanol production are all COMPLETELY used and represent a multi-billion dollar side business to the production of ethanol. There is virtually ZERO waste in ethanol production.

 

[cowboydoc]

Dan,

Off of every bushel of corn produced the company here where I live sells nearly that same bushel in cattle feed. NONE of the "experts" figure in the "other" products as to reducing the cost of production of ethanol. They only figure in the absolute costs of the production of the bushel of the corn and the absolute costs of getting that one gallon of ethanol. Nevermind the fact that the "waste" products from ethanol production are all COMPLETELY used and represent a multi-billion dollar side business to the production of ethanol. There is virtually ZERO waste in ethanol production.

 

[TiminMN]

Hundreds of pumps and meters in MN have been used for E-85, some more than four years ago with out problems.

 

[TiminMN]

Hundreds of pumps and meters in MN have been used for E-85, some more than four years ago with out problems.