BioFuel
in [Physics]
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From: Jean on 22 Jul 2010 00:47 I lately read about Algae Fuel. Now I am wondering why there isn't any mass commercialization of such technologies - which potentially can be used to fuel existing (diesel) vehicles without any or with least modifications ? Is economic viability still a major factor compared to mineral oils ? Like many I also find it to be a cool idea to feed algae with CO2 and sunlight and make oil.Even though burning those fuels generate CO2, total CO2 content will remain unaltered. Seems like the most natural way to mass produce fuel for your need.
From: TKeating on 22 Jul 2010 11:12 On Jul 21, 9:47 pm, Jean <alertj...(a)rediffmail.com> wrote: > I lately read about Algae Fuel. Now I am wondering why there isn't > any mass commercialization of such technologies - which potentially > can be used to fuel existing (diesel) vehicles without any or with > least modifications ? Is economic viability still a major factor > compared to mineral oils ? > Like many I also find it to be a cool idea to feed algae with CO2 and > sunlight and make oil.Even though burning those fuels generate CO2, > total CO2 content will remain unaltered. Seems like the most natural > way to mass produce fuel for your need. I have grown toxic Anabaena flos aquae cyanobacteria (algae) under carbon-13 enriched CO2 for research. From my experience I can tell you that algae grow exponentially under optimal conditions. If you wish to invest in Algae Fuel research you are free to do so. All that is required is equipment and materials, sunlight and mastery of axenic culture technique. These are trivialties for anyone with a Ph.D. Whenever I was unemployed, I enrolled at universities in continuing educations studies. I am currently unemployed and I have submitted a course proposal to a local university that is not related to this subject. I would encourage any unemployed intellectual to study micro and macroeconmics at university. I did so decades ago. Economics is the most important study for those at the bottom of the socio-economic heap. From my study of economics I can tell you that investment in Algae Biofuel is unfavoured in a free market. The reason is cost (labor and capital) verus profit. In a free market profit is required to cover capital and labor costs. This economic constraint even applies under a communist economy. If this were not so then scarce economic resources would be misallocated. More important issue like health and housing would lose out. Health and housing are of great concern. Please read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homelessness This is an excellent article on homelessness. On a global scale the growth of homelessness is a manifestation of failures of economies to deliver adequate services in the area of health and housing. Health and housing are intricately connected. I agree with you Algae Biofuel is a great idea. However, it is UNLIKELY to deliver usable energy at a price that is less than the current price of energy from coal, petroleum and nuclear. Algae Biofuel energy may be economically competitive with wind energy and energy derived from silicon photovoltaics cells. I am not aware of comparative economic analyses. So rather than demand that others do the work for you, why don't you study axenic algae culture technique and do the work yourself. For such reseeach you will require pure starting cultures. This page: http://wdcm.nig.ac.jp/hpcc.html shows you the various national culture collects througout the world. Do the research into the species of algae you wish to research for making biofuel. Contact a handy culture collection near you and then do the work. Good luck. You may be the next Einstein. NOTE: I may be too pessimistic about the economic viablity of algae biofuel and I invite anyone to disagree with me.
From: Cwatters on 24 Jul 2010 06:11
"Jean" <alertjean(a)rediffmail.com> wrote in message news:ced82a88-24d7-4f89-874a-3b628ea75dca(a)f6g2000yqa.googlegroups.com... >I lately read about Algae Fuel. Now I am wondering why there isn't > any mass commercialization of such technologies - which potentially > can be used to fuel existing (diesel) vehicles without any or with > least modifications ? Is economic viability still a major factor > compared to mineral oils ? > Like many I also find it to be a cool idea to feed algae with CO2 and > sunlight and make oil.Even though burning those fuels generate CO2, > total CO2 content will remain unaltered. Seems like the most natural > way to mass produce fuel for your need. > Might be worth looking at back issues of New Scientist for articles. As I understand it the problem is the land area required. I believe current systems need huge water tanks to produce a small quantity of fuel. I recall one calculation showed that a land area the size of Germany would be required to produce enough fuel just for avaition use. I think current research is working on how to grow algae at higher densities. |