Ethanol Groups Plan More Blender Pumps
Submitted by DTN Ethanol Blog
Ethanol supporters Tuesday launched a campaign to increase access to the fuel across the country by installing 5,000 blender pumps nationwide over the next three years.
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September 16th, 2009 at 10:18 am
As many have asked, where does ethanol go from here? The market for E85 has not seen market demand and the ethanol industry is struggling to move beyond the E10 blend wall. I am confidently saying there is more to the story of ethanol’s potential. Information has been pulled together from engineering groups and OEM’s through both technical papers and direct communication.
It would be easy to say that ethanol can achieve equal mileage to gasoline, and this would be a true statement. However, to apply fuel infrastructure, market demand and engine technology and achieve positive results requires a broad discussion for developing a clear pathway. The first thing to understand is that in many ways, ethanol varies to gasoline as gasoline varies to diesel. This is one area that several companies have shown much interest recently when the discussion of blender pumps is brought up. This is one option that provides quality fuel and cost savings to the consumer.
Recently, more articles and technical papers are bringing out the term of downsizing the engine with the use of turbo charging, direct cylinder fuel injection along with the use of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). This is already being introduced by Ford with their Ecoboost engine and GM’s Ecotech engine. These engines are currently not utilizing ethanol’s potential but it is the perfect answer for taking advantage of ethanol.
It has been shown that E50 could achieve the same mileage as regular gasoline in these downsized engines. That would mean equal mileage with 17 percent less energy (BTU’s) in the tank, which also means additional carbon reduction not being recognized today. With potential carbon legislation, establishing a carbon per mile rating will aid in showing better results with ethanol. When viewed as the effective energy output of ethanol, every gallon of ethanol produced could displace 30 percent more oil when used in these engines.
Many today would say that ethanol is an octane extender to gasoline but based on how ethanol performs and the benefits in new engines, the term is best describe as if ethanol is an efficiency extender for gasoline. Most of the new engine development shows that newer engines can push the engine efficiency to either the limit of the fuel (octane limits) or the limits of the engine. Understanding this is important for consumers to see the best cost per mile and this means putting more ethanol in the tank.
Bringing in the term efficiency usually starts a more technical discussion but this is needed for the EPA to accept ethanol’s potential. Efficiency, simply stated, is energy in, work out. Today’s cars are just now reaching beyond 30 percent and diesel engines are 36 to 38 percent with some serious issues as it relates to emissions.
Several projects have demonstrated that ethanol in a designated ethanol engine could achieve 45 percent or better efficiency. This approach also lets one gallon of ethanol replace one gallon of gas or better. The fuel infrastructure and application market would have some limiting factors. A great example of this is Amerifuels which have sold some 300 all ethanol irrigation engines in Nebraska. The fuel infrastructure is already there and has proven ethanol to be the most cost effective and energy efficient fuel of choice.
Ethanol has more to offer. While the ethanol industry is in the trenches dealing with one issue after another, the big picture is not being seen. Correct facts and understanding on issues like food verses fuel with regards to the remaining protein product, indirect land use, water use, energy balance, displacing more oil imports, reducing tailpipe carcinogens and several others like sustainable agriculture need to be discussed.
We feel ethanol has a strong future and hopes this information helps in understanding some of the potential with ethanol. Other areas we are pursuing would also enhance ethanol production like gasification, cellulose ethanol and other projects. Raising the value for ethanol will help new technology see better market potential and allow more alternatives for reducing carbon emissions, creating jobs and strengthening America.
The possibilities are very exciting but forward thinking strategy is necessary. The input from all areas are needed and the support from both state and federal representatives is very important.