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Biodiesel & Other Types of Biofuel Production
Learn about biofuel production and find rugged pumps that can be effectively used throughout this demanding process.
With today’s concerns about oil prices and future energy supplies, and increased interest in renewable energy technologies, biofuel production is a hot topic. Research is underway for new biomass materials and installations, and increased worldwide consumption is predicted for the future. In this article, we’ll look at the growth of biofuel, bioethanol production and the process of biodiesel production. We’ll also discuss the need for heavy duty, high performance pumping equipment that can handle the variety of media that’s involved.
Biofuel Forecasts
The two most common forms of biofuels are bioethanol and biodiesel. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) predicts that ethanol production will be approximately 1.04 million barrels daily in 2019 and 2020, and consumption for 2019 is expected to reach 950,000 barrels per day. Biodiesel production, which in 2018 was 123,000 barrels per day, is expected to be approximately 144,000 barrels in 2019 and 158,000 barrels per day in 2020.
The Changing Landscape of Biofuel Materials
There are four generations of biofuels. The first generation is derived from food crops, either by abstracting oils for biodiesel or through fermentation for bioethanol. The second generation biofuels are produced from non-food crops such as food crop waste, wood and organic waste. Third generation biofuels focus on specially developed energy crops like algae, which is high-energy, low-cost and fully renewable. The fourth generation biofuels are designed to not only supply sustainable energy but to capture and store carbon dioxide.
The Bioethanol Production Process
In bioethanol production, biomass is converted into ethanol by means of fermentation with microorganisms such as yeast and bacteria. The basic steps are 1) fermentation of sugars; 2) distillation; and 3) optional dehydration and denaturing. Certain crops may require saccharification, which is the hydrolysis of carbohydrates into sugars, before fermentation.
In fermentation, corn and sugar cane are the most often used crops, but research is being done with cellulosic ethanol, produced from the fiber of wood, grass, algae and other plants.
During distillation, water in the ethanol is removed. It is only possible to achieve 95-96% purity, due to the formation of low-boiling water and ethanol azeotrope. Further treatments are done to remove additional water, so that the ethanol can be combined with fossil fuels.
For dehydration, physical absorption with a molecular sieve is the most common method for purification.
The Biodiesel Production Process
Biodiesel, a cleaner-burning diesel fuel replacement, can be made from various feedstocks such as recycled cooking oil, soybean oil and animal fats. The process of making biodiesel is called transesterification, which is done to separate the glycerin from the vegetable oil or fat. The reactants are mixed together, and this process creates two substances—methyl esters (biodiesel) and glycerin, which can be used in soaps and other products. An alkaline is used as a catalyst to speed up the rate of the chemical reaction. In large-scale biodiesel production, sodium methylate (sodium methoxide) has become the most popular catalyst to use in this process.
High Performance Grundfos Pumps to Meet the Demands of Biofuel Production
Grundfos, as the world’s leading pump manufacturer, designs pumps for every industrial process, including raw water intake, water supply and treatment, dosing, cleaning, boiler feeding, heating and cooling, wastewater, fire protection and sanitary or general processing. To meet the demands of the ever-evolving biofuel industry, Grundfos manufactures high performance, reliable, continuous operation pumps for bioethanol and biodiesel production. Their specialized pumps are designed for each step of the process, including water supply and wastewater handling, and they can be customized to a company’s specific requirements.
Grundfos pumps are designed to handle high flows and the most aggressive liquids in a safe and efficient manner, giving your production plant the power to handle the most challenging operations. Burt Process Equipment is your leading supplier of Grundfos pumps.
Bioethanol Production Pumps
- Water Supply – easy to install, efficient; can be adapted for various flow rates and volumes.
- Fermentation – stainless steel sanitary pumps for controlling fermentation process; CIP-capable for fast, effective cleaning.
- Distillation – customized for ATEX compliance.
- Cooling – highly efficient pumps for various media.
- Wastewater – for all conditions and requirements, with no blockage or clogging.
Biodiesel Production Pumps
- Water Supply – ensures stable water supply; reliable, energy-optimized pumps with monitoring and control features.
- Heating and Boiler Feed (process heating – steam production) – efficient, speed-controlled; for tough applications and varying inlet conditions.
- Esterification – robust, heavy duty; moves aggressive substances safely.
- Glycerin Purification – customized; specially designed shaft seals for glycerin and alcohol distillation.
- Wastewater – corrosion-resistant, submersible and dry-mounted; includes monitoring and control features.
