TVA's biomass fuels program. Circular Z-120

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:5951484

Stinson, J M

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has created a Biomass Fuels Program to develop information and processes that will allow effective use of Valley biomass (principally wood) by industry. Sufficient hardwood supplies exist to significantly relieve the Valley's dependence on oil and natural gas. Conversion of hardwoods to ethanol by acid hydrolysis is a primary objective of the program. About 30 years ago TVA and the Forest Products Laboratory of the US Department of Agriculture carried out a joint study to improve an existing acid hydrolysis process. The improved process is currently in commercial use in the USSR. Study is underway on a significant number of further improvements which should decrease cost of production and improve process efficiency. Direct combustion of wood in commercial and industrial furnace/boilers to replace oil and natural gas is currently feasible and is receiving considerably attention. Technical assistance is provided to encourage commercialization. Other activities include: (1) development of wood resource information and harvesting techniques; (2) determining productivity of nonwood biomass crops for ethanol production and potential land availability for biomass crops; (3) development of a farm-scale fuel alcohol unit to utilize various nonwood feedstocks; and (4) marketing and distribution assessments.

• Research Organization: National Fertilizer Development Center, Muscle Shoals, AL (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5951484
• Report Number(s): CONF-8105119-1; ON: DE81904161
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
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ACID HYDROLYSIS
ALCOHOL FUELS
ALCOHOLS
BIOMASS
BIOMASS CONVERSION PLANTS
BOILERS
CHEMICAL FEEDSTOCKS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
CROPS
DECOMPOSITION
DESIGN
ENERGY SOURCES
ETHANOL
ETHANOL PLANTS
FUELS
HYDROLYSIS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INDUSTRY
LYSIS
METHANOL
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SOLVOLYSIS
SYNTHETIC FUELS
TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
US ORGANIZATIONS
WOOD FUELS