Hydrothermal energy: a source of energy for alcohol production

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5554526

Stiger, R. R.

A small scale (1 gal/hr) biomass-to-alcohol still was built at the Raft River Geothermal Site to investigate difficulties in geothermal assisted biomass conversion. The unit was successfully operated, producing 95% (190 proof) ethanol from sugar beet juice. The unit was designed and built in less than eight weeks from surplus equipment using commercially available design information. This small-scale still demonstrated that 95% ethanol can be produced from sugar beet beer containing 8 to 10% alcohol using geothermal energy and present commercial technology. The geothermal resource provided both an energy source and process water. Recently, Bechtel National, Incorporated, of San Francisco, California completed a study to analyze the economic feasibility of producing ethanol from potatoes, wheat, and sugar beets using geothermal resources available in the Raft River Region of Idaho. The study concluded that a 20 million gallon per year facility can be built that will supply alcohol at $1.78 per gallon using geothermal energy. (MHR)

• Research Organization: Idaho National Engineering Lab., Idaho Falls (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-07-1570
• OSTI ID: 5554526
• Report Number(s): CONF-800526-1
• Resource Relation: Conference: Alcohol alternative conference, Chicago, IL, USA, 1 May 1980
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
09 BIOMASS FUELS
ALCOHOLS
DISTILLATION
GEOTHERMAL HEATING
DRYING
POTATOES
RAFT RIVER VALLEY
SUGAR BEETS
WHEAT
BEETS
CEREALS
FOOD
GRAMINEAE
GRASS
HEATING
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IDAHO
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION
PLANTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
TUBERS
USA
VEGETABLES
151000* - Geothermal Energy- Direct Energy Utilization
140504 - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)
090222 - Alcohol Fuels- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass- (1976-1989)