Feasibility of converting a sugar beet plant to fuel ethanol production
This study was performed to assess the feasibility of producing fuel ethanol from sugar beets. Sugar beets are a major agricultural crop in the area and the beet sugar industry is a major employer. There have been some indications that increasing competition from imported sugar and fructose sugar produced from corn may lead to lower average sugar prices than have prevailed in the past. Fuel ethanol might provide an attractive alternative market for beets and ethanol production would continue to provide an industrial base for labor. Ethanol production from beets would utilize much of the same field and plant equipment as is now used for sugar. It is logical to examine the modification of an existing sugar plant from producing sugar to ethanol. The decision was made to use Great Western Sugar Company's plant at Mitchell as the example plant. This plant was selected primarily on the basis of its independence from other plants and the availability of relatively nearby beet acreage. The potential feedstocks assessed included sugar beets, corn, hybrid beets, and potatoes. Markets were assessed for ethanol and fermentation by-products saleability. Investment and operating costs were determined for each prospective plant. Plants were evaluated using a discounted cash flow technique to obtain data on full production costs. Environmental, health, safety, and socio-economic aspects of potential facilities were examined. Three consulting engineering firms and 3 engineering-construction firms are considered capable of providing the desired turn-key engineering design and construction services. It was concluded that the project is technically feasible. (DMC)
- Research Organization:
- Development Planning and Research Associates, Manhattan, KS (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-80CS83010
- OSTI ID:
- 6510487
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/CS/83010-T1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
BIOMASS CONVERSION PLANTS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
ETHANOL
PRODUCTION
SUGAR BEETS
FERMENTATION
COST
DATA COMPILATION
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ENERGY BALANCE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INVESTMENT
MAIZE
MARKET
OPERATING COST
SAFETY
SITE SELECTION
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
ALCOHOLS
BEETS
BIOCONVERSION
CEREALS
DATA
ECONOMICS
FOOD
GRAMINEAE
GRASS
HAZARDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
VEGETABLES
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