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The Southwest Biofuels Initiative (SWBI) is a project of the Houston Advanced Research Center, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit research institution located in The Woodlands, Texas. The SWBI is jointly supported by a wide range of government, industry, university, and research organizations working in Texas to promote reliable, secure, economical, and environmentally-friendly fuels for our growing energy needs.
The Southwest Biofuels Initiative will spearhead the development of these opportunities. The initial focus of these efforts will be the introduction of biofuels to the Greater Houston/Galveston region, following by expansion into the rest of the Texas and the region.
Please join us in this important effort by authorizing us to publicly indicate your support and to work with your designated representative to the Southwest Biofuels Initiative.
Project Summaries
As of April 2006
- Biofuels Power Generation - Research the use of biodiesel methyl ester blends in power generation units to compare biofuels with petroleum fuels and to demonstrate the use of a variety of methods to reduce emissions.
- Biofuels Development - Manufacturing of biodiesel methyl ester blends from a variety of feedstocks to determine the efficacy of agricultural development specifically for renewable fuel.
Emissions Reduction Initiative
The Southwest Biofuels Initiative has begun a program to test the use of mechanical and chemical processes to reduce the emissions from liquid fueled stationary power generators. The emissions characteristics of various gensets will be used to compare biofuels to that of petroleum fuels. Both types of fuels will be run with and without additives and catalytic converter-type devices.
Emissions tests will be performed in a laboratory setting with a 150 kw reciprocating engine generator as well as a 165 kw mix fuel turbine. The Initiative also hopes to test a 1.6 MW generator and a 2.5 MW EMD 645 locomotive-type genset. This will offer data on a wide variety of engines under load conditions.
Emissions reduction technologies to be tested will include ethanol and water emulsion additives, catalytic converter mechanical devices as well as more exotic treatments such as engine coating systems, NOX conversion kits and afterburners. The goal of the initiative is to show the efficacy of biofuels in emissions reduction in combination with commercially available techniques.
HARC's Southwest Biofuels Initiative Set to Begin Emissions Testing Project on Reciprocating Engines Utilizing Renewable Bio-Diesel
HARC's Southwest Biofuels Initiative has partnered with SAFuels Inc. & Texoga Technologies Corporation., a SAFuel bio-diesel manufacturer located in Conroe, TX, to conduct the "first ever" EPA quality emissions testing of stationary grid-connected reciprocating diesel engines utilizing renewable bio-diesel fuel.
The use of renewable bio-diesel fuel in stationary generation applications offers potential for dramatic reductions in carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and unburned hydrocarbons. Power production using bio-diesel also promotes energy security and enhances safety. The problematic aspect of using bio-diesel in this type of application is the potential increase in NOx emissions, which are primarily responsible for the formation of ground-level ozone. In non-attainment areas like Houston-Galveston, an increase in NOx is unacceptable.
The goal of this research study is to characterize emissions of stationary reciprocating engines using renewable bio-diesel fuels. In particular, we will measure the emissions rates using various bio-diesel blends and engine operating strategies to minimize NOx emissions.
Phase I will begin with initial testing on a 44.8kW diesel engine installed at the SAFuels plant in Tamina, Texas. A baseline emissions profile for the engine will be developed with both standard diesel and soy based B100 bio-diesel. The goal for Phase I of the project is to determine the "optimal" bio-diesel or bio-diesel blend that minimizes NOx emissions, using EPA certified testing procedures. This turbocharged 2.9 liter diesel engine will allow testing under many different operating conditions and various bio-diesel fuel mixes with pertinent fuel additives. Once the "optimal" bio-diesel fuel mix is selected, Phase II will further test various emissions controls strategies inclusive of additives, engine tuning, and after burner controls. In Phase III, we will test the "optimal" bio-diesel fuel mix at other grid connected sites offering different engines and site conditions. The first Phase III test site monitor NOx emissions from three 1.6 MW diesel engines located in the industrial power station at the Texoga Oak Ridge North facility.
Testing is scheduled to begin the December 12th, 2006.
 Biofuels Power Fires Up Biodiesel Plant in Montgomery County - Houston Business Journal (135 KB)
Biofuels Feedstock Initiative
The Southwest Biofuels Initiative has begun a program to test various biofuels produced from a variety of feedstocks to determine the grade and quality of fuel produced as well as the yield and ease of production from these raw materials. Feedstocks to be tested include vegetable oils, animal tallow and waste oils from restaurant and water treatment sources.
SWBI has developed a biofuels manufacturing plant near the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) in The Woodlands, Texas. This facility has a small biodiesel blending lab with a unique microwave de-emulsifying unit attached. This unit can make samples of biofuel in small quantities (up to 50-gallon batches) under identical conditions so that these can be evaluated for quality and comparison parameters as a fuel.
One goal of the Feedstock Initiative is to evaluate the efficacy of growing vegetable feedstocks throughout the arid regions of the southwestern United States that could be used to support a renewable energy program of using biodiesel in transportation and power generation. This could greatly reduce emissions from hydrocarbons and other fuel use. Biodiesel use in Europe is more than quadruple that of the U.S. and this project can show the efficacy of biofuel power generation.
Contact Us
For additional information you can contact:
Daniel Bullock
Houston Advanced Research Center
Email: dbullock@harc.edu
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| Page Updated/Reviewed: 08/22/2007 3:12 PM |
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