Ethanol, myths and realities

[kcarl]

Another issue to consider is that ethanol is more corrosive to some materials than gasoline and provides less energy per volume. Current gasoline pumps/dispensers cannot handle a high percentage of ethanol in the fuel mixture. E85 (Europe) requires serious modifications to dispensing equipment. I think 10% ethanol is all most cars can handle unless recently designed for a higher %. I'm all for using ethanol, but these are some issues that will slow down widespread use.

 

[kcarl]

Another issue to consider is that ethanol is more corrosive to some materials than gasoline and provides less energy per volume. Current gasoline pumps/dispensers cannot handle a high percentage of ethanol in the fuel mixture. E85 (Europe) requires serious modifications to dispensing equipment. I think 10% ethanol is all most cars can handle unless recently designed for a higher %. I'm all for using ethanol, but these are some issues that will slow down widespread use.

 

[Bird]

Dan, one sentence in that link says </font><font color="blue" class="small">( The bottom line is that it takes 35,000 BTUs of energy to turn a bushel of corn into a gallon of ethanol, and that gallon of ethanol contains at least 77,000 BTUs. )</font>

So I assumed they could get a gallon per bushel, but now you've apparently found another site showing only 46,137 BTUs per bushel. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif It seems that even the "experts" and scientists are still disagreeing, but at least they're working on it.

 

[Bird]

Dan, one sentence in that link says </font><font color="blue" class="small">( The bottom line is that it takes 35,000 BTUs of energy to turn a bushel of corn into a gallon of ethanol, and that gallon of ethanol contains at least 77,000 BTUs. )</font>

So I assumed they could get a gallon per bushel, but now you've apparently found another site showing only 46,137 BTUs per bushel. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif It seems that even the "experts" and scientists are still disagreeing, but at least they're working on it.

 

[dmccarty]

Oh Lordy,

I googled </font><font color="blue" class="small">( cost of a bushel of corn )</font> which got me a link to the Chicago Board of trade.....

/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

THEY said it takes 1 bushel of corn to make a gallon of 2.6 gallons of ethanol. And that 70% of the cost making ethanol is the corn.

So forget my eariler math. If the board says 2.6/1 I'll take that as Gospel since they loose money if that ratio is wrong. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

So I need to plant 1.5 to 3 acres of corn. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

They have a long discussion on Corn Crush Reference Guide. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

With equations.... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Later,
Dan

 

[dmccarty]

Oh Lordy,

I googled </font><font color="blue" class="small">( cost of a bushel of corn )</font> which got me a link to the Chicago Board of trade.....

/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

THEY said it takes 1 bushel of corn to make a gallon of 2.6 gallons of ethanol. And that 70% of the cost making ethanol is the corn.

So forget my eariler math. If the board says 2.6/1 I'll take that as Gospel since they loose money if that ratio is wrong. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

So I need to plant 1.5 to 3 acres of corn. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

They have a long discussion on Corn Crush Reference Guide. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

With equations.... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Later,
Dan

 

[TiminMN]

E85 only takes minor modifications to dispensing equipment, new break a way coupler, hose, and hanlde. All can be done for about $800 per pump. I know that doesn't sound cheap but campard to the cost of a pump to start with its not munch.
All cars in MN have ran on 10% ethanol for over 10 years. Some people blend E85 to get higher blends. A couple of pumps in SD sell E20 and E30. They are lable for FFV only but a lot of people put cars that are not FFV.

 

[TiminMN]

E85 only takes minor modifications to dispensing equipment, new break a way coupler, hose, and hanlde. All can be done for about $800 per pump. I know that doesn't sound cheap but campard to the cost of a pump to start with its not munch.
All cars in MN have ran on 10% ethanol for over 10 years. Some people blend E85 to get higher blends. A couple of pumps in SD sell E20 and E30. They are lable for FFV only but a lot of people put cars that are not FFV.

 

[cowboydoc]

Dan,

Sorry I thought that had the info in there. I will try and find the other one. Right now most plants are right around 3 gallons/bushel especially the ones built in the last couple years. As long as this keeps going there a couple companies with genetic corn that will be releasing it. It's already there it just needs approval. This corn is capable of doubling and tripling current corn production.

There are also several new methods of processing that will also increase production and lower/gallon costs. Sudan grass is another crop that holds even greater potential for ethanol production.

It took Brazil about 10 years to make the switch. But now that they have they are 100% self-sustaining with very little oil import. All the oil in the world could dry up tomorrow and they would keep going on like nothing happened.

 

[cowboydoc]

Dan,

Sorry I thought that had the info in there. I will try and find the other one. Right now most plants are right around 3 gallons/bushel especially the ones built in the last couple years. As long as this keeps going there a couple companies with genetic corn that will be releasing it. It's already there it just needs approval. This corn is capable of doubling and tripling current corn production.

There are also several new methods of processing that will also increase production and lower/gallon costs. Sudan grass is another crop that holds even greater potential for ethanol production.

It took Brazil about 10 years to make the switch. But now that they have they are 100% self-sustaining with very little oil import. All the oil in the world could dry up tomorrow and they would keep going on like nothing happened.