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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Ethanol production energy analysis

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6693475
Energy balance is determined for producing 190 proof ethyl alcohol from corn by fermentation and distillation. Two types of energy balances are analyzed. The first consists of the total energy required except solar and the second consists of liquid fuel requirements for producing alcohol. Results of this report are presented in four figures. The total energy required to convert corn to 190 proof ethanol within the SDSU fuel alcohol research facility is 37,400 Btu per anhydrous equivalent gallon of ethanol, an energy balance of 2.0 to 1. The liquid energy required to convert corn to 190 proof ethanol within the SDSU fuel alcohol research facility is 800 Btu per anhydrous equivalent gallon of ethanol, an energy balance of 95 to 1. This is consistent since coal is used as the primary fuel. The total energy required to grow corn and convert it to alcohol at SDSU is 86,200 Btu per anhydrous equivalent gallon of ethanol, an energy balance of 0.88. The liquid energy required to grow corn and covert it to alcohol at SDSU is 21,600 Btu per anhydrous equivalent gallon of ethanol, an energy balance of 3.5 to 1. 6 references, 3 figures, 4 tables.
Research Organization:
South Dakota State Univ., Brookings (USA). Dept. of Agricultural Engineering
DOE Contract Number:
FG48-79R800456
OSTI ID:
6693475
Report Number(s):
DOE/R8/00456-T1; ON: DE84015677
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English