Tiny Biodiesel Reactors 369
Lee_in_KC writes "A professor of chemical engineering at Oregon State University
developed a small reactor to directly convert vegetable oil to biodiesel.
Goran Jovanovic reports his invention is approximately the size of a credit
card. It pumps vegetable oil and alcohol through parallel channels to
convert the oil into biodiesel almost instantly. Current mainstream
methods to produce biodiesel take more than a day and also produces other byproducts which must be neutralized before disposal or use in other manufacturing processes."
I'm waiting. (Score:3, Insightful)
Cellular Reactions. (Score:5, Insightful)
What results is not only a tiny stream of 100 percent biodiesel fuel, but also glycerin, the latter having uses in making soaps and even fossil fuel-free plastics.
The microreactors, each of which produces only a minute amount of biodiesel, are designed to be used with thousands of others of the same size in a single, integrated system."
Sounds like the mechanical equivalent of an organ.
Re:I'm waiting. (Score:3, Insightful)
Do you think the 'oil companies' would really buy this patent for the sole purpose of burying it?
Not a good way to become oil-independent (Score:0, Insightful)
http://www.energybulletin.net/5045.html [energybulletin.net]
The ONLY answer is to switch to nuclear power, ASAP.
Yeah, Yeah...come back when it works (Score:4, Insightful)
"If we're successful with this, nobody will ever make biodiesel any other way,"
So, what you are trying to say is that you haven't ever done it, but in *theory* it should be a phenomenal improvement over exiting methods of biodeisel production...
I'll be over here holding my breath.
Re:I'm waiting (Score:5, Insightful)
This story has been floating around since the 1950s, far longer than any patent term. Either EvilOilCo has a hundred-year patent to go with their hundren-mile-per-gallon car, or there never was such a device...
What about the university... (Score:3, Insightful)
Or how much the university demands in licensing fees.
Far too much good technology goes unused for years until patents expire because their creators overestimate how much they're worth (or simply get greedy.)
Dolby had it right. He licensed Dolby technology at a price so cheap (a few cents per tape player) that manufacturers were happy to pay it. So- every tape player ended up with Dolby licensed technology, and he made millions.
If Big Oil could make a 100 mpg car (Score:5, Insightful)
For example, let us assume this is the status quo:
1: Big Oil owns a patent for a 100 mpg car that can be produced at the same cost with the same features as a regular car
2: A "regular" car costs $20,000, gets 25 mpg, and is driven 100,000 miles (4000 gallons, lifetime) at $3/gallon
3: Big Oil has a 10% profit margin on gasoline, and Detroit/Japan have a 10% margin on regular cars
Now, here is the first question. How much would YOU, the average consumer, be willing to pay for a new BigOil brand car? Well, the total cost of car + gas of a regular car is $32000. So as long as a BigOil car costs less in total, you would buy it. Since it will have a gasoline cost of $3000, it stands to reason that you will choose a Big Oil car for any price up to $29000.
Now, where does Big Oil make more profits? The status quo or by selling BigOil cars? Well, in the status quo, they sell you $12000 worth of gas and keep $1200 after costs. Not bad! But what if they instead sell you a BigOil car? Well, the cost of producing a BigOil or regular car is $18,000. Yet they can sell it to you for $29000, an $11000 profit. They can then snatch $300 more on profits from the remaining gas they sell you, for a total of $11,300.
Now assuming Big Oil is greedy (a safe assumption), which do you think they would rather have? $1200 or $11300?
Myth refuted. Please move along.
Re:If Big Oil could make a 100 mpg car (Score:3, Insightful)
Whereas this is a troll... (Score:3, Insightful)
However, it's clearly a demonstration of the problems of the patent system that someone as ignorant of basic physics and chemistry as this can get a patent.
Yes, I am in a bad mood today. Totally ignorant postings and moderations on science and technology always have that effect on me.
Re:Just what America needs... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Will that be cash - or biodiesel? (Score:2, Insightful)
I generally agree, and welcome with open arms, with your point, but have just one thing to point out:
Screw corn. There are crops that are much better suited for oil production. My personal bias is for Hemp. These are not for the NORML [norml.org] reasons people think of. Here is a chart that illustrates the gal./acre of various crops http://www.journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_yield.ht ml [journeytoforever.org]. From that chart, Hemp produces over twice as much oil in a single growing as does corn. Coupled with that and the fact that Hemp in most parts of the continental US, multiple plantings per year can be achieved. The South can get at least 3, maybe 4 plantings. Hell, it's a weed, not like it has the genetic capacity to survive.
Of course, there is that minor technicality of the Porky Pigs of the DEA [dea.gov] being unenlightened; but with the price of Oil at ~$73 a barrel and climbing, the chances for change increase with the continued upward movement.
We can only hope.
people,think about lost jobs (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:people,think about lost jobs (Score:3, Insightful)
Gas stations, etc., would still need to exist -- they would just sell a different fuel.
Dumb argument (Score:3, Insightful)
Second doesn't need to be repeated as other posts have explained it.
Third, do you realize how many tens of thousands of pounds (maybe hundreds of thousands???) of food the US government buys from farmers and destroys each year to control food prices? The issue of the starving world isn't food. It's getting them the food. And much blood has been spilled trying to do it (remember Somalia?).
Reliance on bio-diesel would possibly be one of the best possible outcomes in the oil war we could have. Almost anyone can produce vegtables. Oil is a fossil fuel that takes millions of years to produce. There are only a few places with fossil fuels. If there were a reliance upon biodiesel, we'd see entire farms just for the purpose of producing biodiesel vegtables. The wealth would be back in the hands of farmers rather than oil tycoons. If for nothing else, no more blood would be spilled over oil.
Re:Whereas this is a troll... (Score:4, Insightful)
FUD from FORD about biodiesel (Score:2, Insightful)
*Requires special
*Storage is a problem due to higher then normal risk of microbial contamination due to water absorption as well as a higher rate of oxidation stability which creates insoluble gums and sediment deposits - Did they really just say higher rate of oxidative stability?? Biodiesel is more biodegradable, thus more degradable and doesn't store for as long. There's tradeoffs--less toxic if you spill it means it doesn't store as well.
*Biodiesel tends to cause
*The methyl esters
*It is an effective solvent... - This is true, but the end of it is stupid sticking they're head in the sand. All you do it check your fuel filters more for a little while and once the crud is cleaned out you're better off.
Engine's just need to be designed for biodiesel and this won't happen until the market matures more and there are greater economic incentives to do so.