Alcohols - its use, energy and economics - a Brazilian outlook

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Resour Manage. Optim.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5429128

Moreira, J R; Goldemberg, J

A survey is made of the state of the art of the production of ethanol from sugar cane and other crops and the problems and constraints involved on its use as an automotive fuel. The improved efficiency of modified internal combustion engines running on pure alcohol is discussed as well as pollution problems. It is shown that these problems are not aggravated by the use of ethanol. The energy balances for the production of ethanol from sugar cane, cassava, sweet sorghum and wood-taking into account agricultural and industrial energy expenses-are compared in Brazil and in the United States. Costs of ethanol from different crops are evaluated and the conclusion reached that in present Brazilian conditions it is US$12.69/GJ when produced from sugar cane. Gasoline cost in Brazil is US$12.19/GJ ex-refinery. Considering that ethanol when used as an octane booster has an efficiency 25% higher than gasoline, the final conclusion is that ethanol has reached the breakeven point as compared with gasoline in Brazil. (Refs. 83).

• Research Organization: Dept. Mechanical and Aerospace Eng., Princeton Univ., Princeton, NJ 08544; Institute de Fisica da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, S.P., CP. 20516, Brazil.
• OSTI ID: 5429128
• Journal Information: Resour Manage. Optim.; (United States), Journal Name: Resour Manage. Optim.; (United States) Vol. 1:3; ISSN RMOPD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ADDITIVES
ALCOHOL FUELS
ALCOHOLS
AUTOMOTIVE FUELS
BRAZIL
CASSAVA
CEREALS
COST
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY
ENERGY ANALYSIS
ENGINES
ETHANOL
ETHANOL FUELS
FUEL ADDITIVES
FUELS
GASOHOL
GRAMINEAE
GRASS
HEAT ENGINES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
LATIN AMERICA
LIQUID FUELS
NATIONAL PROGRAM PLANS
NET ENERGY
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PLANTS
POLLUTION
PRODUCTION
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
SORGHUM
SOUTH AMERICA
SUGAR CANE
SURVEYS
SYNTHETIC FUELS
TESTING
USA
WOOD