Assessment of Conversion Technologies for Bioalcohol Fuel ...

Thermochemical System (Electricity)
There are only two sources of emissions from this plant–1) the burners used for
heating of the pyrolysis and heat forming chambers and 2) the emissions from the
reciprocating engine/generators. It was assumed that the engine/generators produced
by reciprocating engine manufacturers such as Deutsch and Jenbacher will be able to
meet the BACT demonstrated by companies like Bluepoint (Reno, NV). The total
estimated emissions of the criteria pollutants (NOx, SOx, PM, CO and VOC) are
summarized in Table 5.
Economics (E4)
This analysis was based upon using dry biomass with an energy content of 8,500
BTU/lb at a cost of $45.00/BDT that is delivered to a plant site in a Northern
Sacramento Valley farming community (Schuetzle, 2007).
Thermochemical System (Mixed Alcohols and Electricity)
This $66 million plant is projected to have the capability to co-produce 80 gallons of
alcohol fuel (85-90% ethanol/10-15% methanol) and 550 kWh of electricity (net) per
ton of dry biomass. The economic analysis results for a 500 DTPD plant operated for
329 days/year are as follows:
Capital Cost: $65.8 million
O&M Cost: $14.9 million/yr (incl. feedstock at $45.00/BDT)
Alcohol Production: 13.2 million gallons/yr (85-90% ethanol/10-15% methanol)
Electricity Production: 11.46 MW (net)
Alcohol Production Cost: $1.12/gallon (assumed that the electricity is sold at
$0.071/kWh)
Electricity Production Cost: -$0.025/kWh (assumes alcohol is sold at
$1.80/gallon)
Biochemical System (Ethanol and Electricity)
This 2,205 BDT/day facility is projected to have the capability to produce 59 gallons of
ethanol and 205 kWh of electricity (net) per ton of dry biomass. The economic
analysis results for this plant are as follows:
Capital Cost: $205 million
O&M Cost: $107.0 million/yr (incl. feedstock at $45.00/DT)
Ethanol Production: 42.8 million gallons/yr
Ethanol Production Cost: $2.24/gallon
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