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Title: Geothermal source potential and utilization for alcohol production

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the technical and economic feasibility of using a potential geothermal source to drive a fuel grade alcohol plant. Test data from the well at the site indicated that the water temperature at approximately 8500 feet should approach 275/sup 0/F. However, no flow data was available, and so the volume of hot water that can be expected from a well at this site is unknown. Using the available data, numerous fuel alcohol production processes and various heat utilization schemes were investigated to determine the most cost effective system for using the geothermal resource. The study found the direct application of hot water for alcohol production based on atmospheric processes using low pressure steam to be most cost effective. The geothermal flow rates were determined for various sizes of alcohol production facility using 275/sup 0/F water, 235/sup 0/F maximum processing temperature, 31,000 and 53,000 Btu per gallon energy requirements, and appropriate process approach temperatures. It was determined that a 3 million gpy alcohol plant is the largest facility that can practically be powered by the flow from one large geothermal well. An order-of-magnitude cost estimate was prepared, operating costs were calculated, the economic feasibility of themore » propsed project was examined, and a sensitivity analysis was performed.« less

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States); CH2M Hill, Boise, ID (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
6036309
Report Number(s):
EGG-2138
ON: DE82003801
DOE Contract Number:  
AC07-76ID01570
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY; 09 BIOMASS FUELS; ALCOHOL FUELS; PRODUCTION; ETHANOL PLANTS; GEOTHERMAL PROCESS HEAT; DEHYDRATION; DISTILLATION; ENERGY BALANCE; FERMENTATION; FLOW RATE; GEOTHERMAL WELLS; OPERATING COST; PAYBACK PERIOD; SACCHARIFICATION; SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS; TAX CREDITS; BIOCONVERSION; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; COST; DECOMPOSITION; ENERGY; FUELS; HEAT; HYDROLYSIS; INDUSTRIAL PLANTS; LYSIS; PROCESS HEAT; SEPARATION PROCESSES; SOLVOLYSIS; SYNTHETIC FUELS; WELLS; Geothermal Legacy; 151000* - Geothermal Energy- Direct Energy Utilization; 090222 - Alcohol Fuels- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass- (1976-1989); 140504 - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)

Citation Formats

Austin, J C. Geothermal source potential and utilization for alcohol production. United States: N. p., 1981. Web. doi:10.2172/6036309.
Austin, J C. Geothermal source potential and utilization for alcohol production. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/6036309
Austin, J C. 1981. "Geothermal source potential and utilization for alcohol production". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/6036309. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6036309.
@article{osti_6036309,
title = {Geothermal source potential and utilization for alcohol production},
author = {Austin, J C},
abstractNote = {A study was conducted to assess the technical and economic feasibility of using a potential geothermal source to drive a fuel grade alcohol plant. Test data from the well at the site indicated that the water temperature at approximately 8500 feet should approach 275/sup 0/F. However, no flow data was available, and so the volume of hot water that can be expected from a well at this site is unknown. Using the available data, numerous fuel alcohol production processes and various heat utilization schemes were investigated to determine the most cost effective system for using the geothermal resource. The study found the direct application of hot water for alcohol production based on atmospheric processes using low pressure steam to be most cost effective. The geothermal flow rates were determined for various sizes of alcohol production facility using 275/sup 0/F water, 235/sup 0/F maximum processing temperature, 31,000 and 53,000 Btu per gallon energy requirements, and appropriate process approach temperatures. It was determined that a 3 million gpy alcohol plant is the largest facility that can practically be powered by the flow from one large geothermal well. An order-of-magnitude cost estimate was prepared, operating costs were calculated, the economic feasibility of the propsed project was examined, and a sensitivity analysis was performed.},
doi = {10.2172/6036309},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6036309}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1981},
month = {Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1981}
}