Corn cob gasification and diesel electric generation

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

OSTI ID:6378582

O'Toole, J J; Wessels, T E; English, B C; Blobaum, R J

The proposal described here involves a program designed to evaluate the collection and transportation costs of corn cobs for the fueling of downdraft gasifiers in the production of low Btu gas. A major use of this gas will be to fuel diesel/electric generating systems in the many municipalities which can be retrofitted for this purpose. At the present time, as reported by the American Public Power Association, the vast majority of these generating units are idle due to costly diesel fuel. A survey conducted by the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities throughout the State of Iowa shows over 90% of these idle units to be in good operating condition and exceed a total of 300 megawatts. This program will deal with the present state of corn crop practices and the economic factors influencing the supply of potential corn cobs and the costs incurred in the delivery and handling processes. The salient feature of this phase will be the instalation of gasifier equipment, and the retrofit of diesel engines in generating stations at two municipal sites in Iowa, where the technical and economic feasibility of the process will be demonstrated. These sites are selected on the basis of significantly different engine designs and major differences in available sources of their corn cob fuel.

• Research Organization: Ames Lab., IA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-82
• OSTI ID: 6378582
• Report Number(s): IS-M-323; CONF-810315-12; ON: DE81023740
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
090122 -- Hydrocarbon Fuels-- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass-- (1976-1989)
140504* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Biomass Production & Conversion-- (-1989)
AGRICULTURAL WASTES
CEREALS
COST
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GASIFICATION
GRAMINEAE
GRASS
HARVESTING
LOW BTU GAS
MAIZE
ORGANIC WASTES
PLANTS
POWER PLANTS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRANSPORT
WASTES