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How algae fuel works

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The document outlines different methods for growing and harvesting algae to produce algae fuel. Open pond growing is the most natural but least controlled method, while closed-tank bioreactors allow for the largest production of algae indoors. After algae is produced, various extraction methods can remove 75-100% of oil from the algae to create "green crude," which can then be processed into drop-in replacement fuels like gasoline and jet fuel through transesterification and refining similarly to conventional oil. Algae is a promising source for fuel as it can grow rapidly using CO2 and sunlight.

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How Algae Fuel Works
Open Pond GrowingThe most natural method for growing algae that will be used to produce algae fuel is open-pond growingOpen ponds are able to produce the greatest amount of algae in hot and sunny conditionsPros:Most natural and least invasive methodCons:Bad weather conditions slow growthContamination from other living things in pondIt is hard to keep the water at the temperature it must be for the algae to grow
Vertical GrowthA quicker and more efficient method of producing algae is vertical growingAlgae are put in clear plastic bags to allow sunlight on both sidesBags are put in tall piles and shielded from the rainPros:Faster and more efficient than open-pond growthAlgae won’t be contaminatedCons:It is hard to keep the water at the temperature it must be for the algae to grow
Closed-Tank BioreactorsFor the fastest algae production, big, round barrels can grow algae indoors in closed-tank bioreactorsThe algae can be controlled into growing at the highest speed possibleIt is able to be harvested every dayPros:Large production of algae, which means more oil for biodieselGood weather conditions for algae growthPlants can be built near energy plants in order to capture extra CO2 that would have polluted the air
FermentationA modification to the closed-tank method of algae growth is called fermentationThe algae are grown in closed containers and supplied with sugar to eat, which speeds their growthPros:All weather and environmental conditions can be kept the sameAlgae can be grown anywhere in the worldCons:There are problems with finding enough sugar to use this process
Extracting Oil from AlgaeAfter producing the algae, a few different methods can be used to extract the lipids(oils) from the algaeThe product of this is Green Crude
Oil PressThe easiest and most common process of extracting oil from algae is the oil pressThis method can remove up to 75% of the oil in the algae simply by pressing itThis is the same technique an olive press uses
Hexane Solvent MethodThe 2-step process that removes up to 95% of oil from the algae is called the hexane solvent methodFirst, the oil press method is usedNext, the remaining algae is combined with methane, filtered and cleaned so that no chemical remains in the oil
Supercritical Fluids MethodCO2 is used as the supercritical fluid to remove up to 100% of the oil from algae in the supercritical fluids methodThe CO2 is put under pressure and heated so that it is changed into a liquid, as well as a gasThe CO2 is then combined with the algae, making it entirely turn into oilThis is a less common method because there is extra labor and equipment need
Green CrudeThe Green Crude produced from algae can be processed in a refinery the same way conventional oil isIt can be made into gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, the main fuels needed in society
TransesterificationOnce the oil has been taken out, it is treated with fatty acid chains in a method called transesterificationThis process includes a catalyst (i.e. sodium hydroxide), which is combined with an alcohol (i.e. methanol) This will produce a biodiesel mixed with a glycerol (algae biodiesel fuel)
Cars Running on Algae FuelThe final product in the algae fuel process will be a Drop-in replacement fuel which is ASTM certified Gasoline, x26 Jet fuel
Turning Algae into Biodiesel
Why Algae?Source of crude oil. The regular crude oil we use today was originally formed from algae that bloomed millions of years agoHelps climate change. Absorbs about 13-14 kg of CO2 for every gallon of Green Crude grownEasy to grow. Algae can grow rapidly, especially in salt water in the desert.
REVIEW of Algae to Biofuel ProcessAlgae (Green Crude) is grown from CO2 and sunlightAlgae is harvested and the oil is removedAlgae is refined (transesterification) in the same way as conventional oilDrop-in Gasoline, Jet Fuel, and Biodiesel is produced

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How algae fuel works

  • 2. Open Pond GrowingThe most natural method for growing algae that will be used to produce algae fuel is open-pond growingOpen ponds are able to produce the greatest amount of algae in hot and sunny conditionsPros:Most natural and least invasive methodCons:Bad weather conditions slow growthContamination from other living things in pondIt is hard to keep the water at the temperature it must be for the algae to grow
  • 3. Vertical GrowthA quicker and more efficient method of producing algae is vertical growingAlgae are put in clear plastic bags to allow sunlight on both sidesBags are put in tall piles and shielded from the rainPros:Faster and more efficient than open-pond growthAlgae won’t be contaminatedCons:It is hard to keep the water at the temperature it must be for the algae to grow
  • 4. Closed-Tank BioreactorsFor the fastest algae production, big, round barrels can grow algae indoors in closed-tank bioreactorsThe algae can be controlled into growing at the highest speed possibleIt is able to be harvested every dayPros:Large production of algae, which means more oil for biodieselGood weather conditions for algae growthPlants can be built near energy plants in order to capture extra CO2 that would have polluted the air
  • 5. FermentationA modification to the closed-tank method of algae growth is called fermentationThe algae are grown in closed containers and supplied with sugar to eat, which speeds their growthPros:All weather and environmental conditions can be kept the sameAlgae can be grown anywhere in the worldCons:There are problems with finding enough sugar to use this process
  • 6. Extracting Oil from AlgaeAfter producing the algae, a few different methods can be used to extract the lipids(oils) from the algaeThe product of this is Green Crude
  • 7. Oil PressThe easiest and most common process of extracting oil from algae is the oil pressThis method can remove up to 75% of the oil in the algae simply by pressing itThis is the same technique an olive press uses
  • 8. Hexane Solvent MethodThe 2-step process that removes up to 95% of oil from the algae is called the hexane solvent methodFirst, the oil press method is usedNext, the remaining algae is combined with methane, filtered and cleaned so that no chemical remains in the oil
  • 9. Supercritical Fluids MethodCO2 is used as the supercritical fluid to remove up to 100% of the oil from algae in the supercritical fluids methodThe CO2 is put under pressure and heated so that it is changed into a liquid, as well as a gasThe CO2 is then combined with the algae, making it entirely turn into oilThis is a less common method because there is extra labor and equipment need
  • 10. Green CrudeThe Green Crude produced from algae can be processed in a refinery the same way conventional oil isIt can be made into gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, the main fuels needed in society
  • 11. TransesterificationOnce the oil has been taken out, it is treated with fatty acid chains in a method called transesterificationThis process includes a catalyst (i.e. sodium hydroxide), which is combined with an alcohol (i.e. methanol) This will produce a biodiesel mixed with a glycerol (algae biodiesel fuel)
  • 12. Cars Running on Algae FuelThe final product in the algae fuel process will be a Drop-in replacement fuel which is ASTM certified Gasoline, x26 Jet fuel
  • 13. Turning Algae into Biodiesel
  • 14. Why Algae?Source of crude oil. The regular crude oil we use today was originally formed from algae that bloomed millions of years agoHelps climate change. Absorbs about 13-14 kg of CO2 for every gallon of Green Crude grownEasy to grow. Algae can grow rapidly, especially in salt water in the desert.
  • 15. REVIEW of Algae to Biofuel ProcessAlgae (Green Crude) is grown from CO2 and sunlightAlgae is harvested and the oil is removedAlgae is refined (transesterification) in the same way as conventional oilDrop-in Gasoline, Jet Fuel, and Biodiesel is produced