US military to make jet fuel from algae

2010-02-17 01:58:06

#1

BVC: Member; +325|6981

Military strategy and environmental concern in one sweet package.

http://www.physorg.com/news185521814.html

US military to make jet fuel from algae
February 16, 2010 by Lin Edwards

The military is the largest single consumer of energy in the US, and a cheap alternative to oil would reduce the 60-75 million barrels of oil currently consumed by military operations.

Scientists at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) have already successfully extracted oil from algal ponds, and is now about to begin large-scale refining of the oil. Special assistant for energy with DARPA, Barbara McQuiston, said unrefined oil produced from algae currently costs $2 per gallon, but the cost is projected to reduce to around $1. The refined and processed jet fuel is expected to cost under $3 per gallon.

The refining operation would produce 50 million gallons of oil derived from algae each year and is expected to begin full-scale operations in 2011. Each acre of algal farm pond can produce 1,000 gallons of oil. The projects are run by private companies General Atomics and SAIC.
One advantage of algae over other biofuels such as ethanol derived from corn or sugar is that they do not compete with land use for food, and algae can be grown in brackish water or waste water. The fuel theoretically produces zero carbon emissions, since all the CO2 released when the fuel is burned was absorbed from the atmosphere by the algae in the first place. Even when processing and transportation are taken into account, the fuel is still low carbon.

DARPA aims to obtain 50 per cent of all military-use fuel from renewable sources by 2016, and the Air Force plans to test a 50-50 mix of fossil fuels and renewable energy sources in its jet fighters and transport planes by next year. The driving force is not just money, but also the desire to create jet fuel in locations such as Afghanistan, where supply convoys are particularly prone to attack. Creating fuel in the field would not only save money and lives, but the infrastructure would be left behind to enable the production of sustainable fuel supplies to continue.

The Chinese government has also been looking at the possibility of using jet fuel produced from algae, and many commercial airlines are doing the same.

© 2010 PhysOrg.com

Last edited by Pubic (2010-02-17 01:58:50)

2010-02-17 04:39:52

#2

SplinterStrike: Roamer; +250|6697|Eskimo land. AKA Canada.

That would wicked

Avgas/jetfuel isn't too cheap, and algae being as rampant as it is, this would be a great way to cull its growth.

2010-02-17 04:55:52

#3

Mekstizzle: WALKER; +3,611|6907|London, England

Good, it needs to be the military that do it because otherwise the environmentalists would get in the way if it was anyone else.

2010-02-17 09:49:10

#4

FEOS: Bellicose Yankee Air Pirate; +1,182|6697|'Murka

They've been running some jets (B-52s, I think) on that kind of fuel for a few years now in a test phase. Not really new news, tbh.

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein
Doing the popular thing is not always right. Doing the right thing is not always popular

2010-02-17 10:42:03

#5

Flaming_Maniac: prince of insufficient light; +2,490|6993|67.222.138.85

The projects are run by private companies General Atomics and SAIC.

mmmm yeah baby that hits the spot

2010-02-17 13:08:13

#6

FEOS: Bellicose Yankee Air Pirate; +1,182|6697|'Murka

Flaming_Maniac wrote:
The projects are run by private companies General Atomics and SAIC.
mmmm yeah baby that hits the spot

?

Is there a problem with private companies doing this?

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein
Doing the popular thing is not always right. Doing the right thing is not always popular

2010-02-17 13:32:56

#7

ruisleipa: Member; +149|6508|teh FIN-land

Mekstizzle wrote:
Good, it needs to be the military that do it because otherwise the environmentalists would get in the way if it was anyone else.

lol.

does this show how little you know about a) algae, b) environmentalists, or c) attitudes amongst 'environmentalists' towards the military?

I though an environmentalist is someone who cares about the environment..which is everyone surely?

Personally this seems like an OK idea, so long as burning algae doesn't release loads of shite into the atmosphere.

2010-02-17 13:38:49

#8

SplinterStrike: Roamer; +250|6697|Eskimo land. AKA Canada.

Mekstizzle wrote:
Good, it needs to be the military that do it because otherwise the environmentalists would get in the way if it was anyone else.

Uhh...you do know what algae does to the environment right?

2010-02-17 13:41:58

#9

Jay: Bork! Bork! Bork!; +2,006|5644|London, England

SplinterStrike wrote:
Mekstizzle wrote:
Good, it needs to be the military that do it because otherwise the environmentalists would get in the way if it was anyone else.
Uhh...you do know what algae does to the environment right?

It takes in carbon dioxide and nitrogen, expels oxygen and is a nuisance in large quantities if in a lake or the ocean. If it's in a tank or special purpose pool, it's fine.

"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat

2010-02-17 14:33:50

#10

Burwhale: Save the BlobFish!; +136|6508|Brisneyland

Awesome development. Hope to see a lot more of these.

2010-02-17 19:05:38

#11

SplinterStrike: Roamer; +250|6697|Eskimo land. AKA Canada.

JohnG@lt wrote:
SplinterStrike wrote:
Mekstizzle wrote:
Good, it needs to be the military that do it because otherwise the environmentalists would get in the way if it was anyone else.
Uhh...you do know what algae does to the environment right?
It takes in carbon dioxide and nitrogen, expels oxygen and is a nuisance in large quantities if in a lake or the ocean. If it's in a tank or special purpose pool, it's fine.

Well that summed it up great XD

2010-02-17 19:14:30

#12

Spark: liquid fluoride thorium reactor; +874|6961|Canberra, AUS

JohnG@lt wrote:
SplinterStrike wrote:
Mekstizzle wrote:
Good, it needs to be the military that do it because otherwise the environmentalists would get in the way if it was anyone else.
Uhh...you do know what algae does to the environment right?
It takes in carbon dioxide and nitrogen, expels oxygen and is a nuisance in large quantities if in a lake or the ocean. If it's in a tank or special purpose pool, it's fine.

add toxic to that and yeah. ask any rower in this city about their biggest peeve and it'll be algae, i bet. especially when it's dry

The paradox is only a conflict between reality and your feeling what reality ought to be.
^{~ Richard Feynman}

2010-02-17 19:23:26

#13

Jay: Bork! Bork! Bork!; +2,006|5644|London, England

Spark wrote:
JohnG@lt wrote:
SplinterStrike wrote:

Uhh...you do know what algae does to the environment right?
It takes in carbon dioxide and nitrogen, expels oxygen and is a nuisance in large quantities if in a lake or the ocean. If it's in a tank or special purpose pool, it's fine.
add toxic to that and yeah. ask any rower in this city about their biggest peeve and it'll be algae, i bet. especially when it's dry

Well yeah, the stuff stinks like death. I've experienced many a 'red tide' in my day. If it's in a controlled environment like they're doing for fuel it's harmless.

"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat

2010-02-17 19:32:05

#14

Spark: liquid fluoride thorium reactor; +874|6961|Canberra, AUS

JohnG@lt wrote:
Spark wrote:
JohnG@lt wrote:

It takes in carbon dioxide and nitrogen, expels oxygen and is a nuisance in large quantities if in a lake or the ocean. If it's in a tank or special purpose pool, it's fine.
add toxic to that and yeah. ask any rower in this city about their biggest peeve and it'll be algae, i bet. especially when it's dry
Well yeah, the stuff stinks like death. I've experienced many a 'red tide' in my day. If it's in a controlled environment like they're doing for fuel it's harmless.

local lake is closed for what seems like half the year because of it

although yeah, in such a controlled environment it's not really an issue - they're not exactly going to build it up to super-extreme levels.

The paradox is only a conflict between reality and your feeling what reality ought to be.
^{~ Richard Feynman}

2010-02-17 19:38:18

#15

Flaming_Maniac: prince of insufficient light; +2,490|6993|67.222.138.85

FEOS wrote:
Flaming_Maniac wrote:
The projects are run by private companies General Atomics and SAIC.
mmmm yeah baby that hits the spot
?

Is there a problem with private companies doing this?

God no, I was expressing my intense sexual pleasure at the thought of private companies doing this.

2010-02-18 08:39:28

#16

FEOS: Bellicose Yankee Air Pirate; +1,182|6697|'Murka

ruisleipa wrote:
Mekstizzle wrote:
Good, it needs to be the military that do it because otherwise the environmentalists would get in the way if it was anyone else.
lol.

does this show how little you know about a) algae, b) environmentalists, or c) attitudes amongst 'environmentalists' towards the military?

I though an environmentalist is someone who cares about the environment..which is everyone surely?

Personally this seems like an OK idea, so long as burning algae doesn't release loads of shite into the atmosphere.

It's not burning algae. Algae converts the stuff into burnable fuel, IIRC.

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein
Doing the popular thing is not always right. Doing the right thing is not always popular

BF2S Forums US military to make jet fuel from algae

Flaming_Maniac wrote:

Mekstizzle wrote:

Mekstizzle wrote:

SplinterStrike wrote:

Mekstizzle wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

SplinterStrike wrote:

Mekstizzle wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

SplinterStrike wrote:

Mekstizzle wrote:

Spark wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

SplinterStrike wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

Spark wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

FEOS wrote:

Flaming_Maniac wrote:

ruisleipa wrote:

Mekstizzle wrote:

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