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Title: TVA application of integrated onfarm fuel alcohol production system. Annual report

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5960403· OSTI ID:5960403

This contract has provided for the documentation of the feasibility of fuel alcohol production with small onfarm facilities, and for the design and construction of an efficient and easily constructed production facility. A feasibility study and a preliminary design report have been prepared. A prototype facility has been designed and constructed with a design production rate of 10 gallons per hour of 190-proof ethanol. The components of the facility are readily available through normal equipment supply channels or can be primarily owner-constructed. Energy efficiency was also of prime consideration in the design, and heat recovery equipment is included where practical. A renewable fuel boiler is used for process heat. Applicable safety standards and environmental requirements were also incorporated into the design. Other project activities included modification of a pickup truck to use the hydrous alcohol produced, evaluation of vacuum distillation for onfarm units, and development of a computer program to allow detailed economic analyses of fuel alcohol production. Efforts were also initiated to evaluate nongrain feedstocks, develop a preliminary design for a low-cost wood-fired boiler, and evaluate packed distillation columns constructed of plastic pipe.

Research Organization:
Tennessee Valley Authority, Muscle Shoals, AL (USA). Div. of Agricultural Development
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AI01-80CS80010
OSTI ID:
5960403
Report Number(s):
DOE/CS/80010-T1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English