Renewables that Work

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

A historical approval of a project many years in the making, is a great place to start a discussion about renewable energy.

Government approves $1.24 billion carbon capture project:
ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/Government-approves-1-24-cnw-2356180101.html?x=0

SaskPower has chosen SNC Lavalin, one of the leading engineering and construction companies in the world, to oversee detailed engineering, procurement and construction activities at the Boundary Dam project.

Cansolv, a wholly owned subsidiary of Shell Global Solutions, will supply the carbon capture process. Hitachi will supply a state-of-the-art steam turbine - the first in the world designed to fully integrate a coal-fired power plant with carbon capture technology.

Construction on the project will begin immediately, with operations commencing in 2014. The new generating unit at Boundary Dam will have the capacity to generate 110 megawatts (MW) of electricity.

In addition to capturing CO2 for enhanced oil recovery operations, the Boundary Dam project will also capture sulfur dioxide (SO2) to be used in the production of sulphuric acid.

[Deleted]

Solar is the future!!!! Enough solar energy strikes the earth in 40 minutes to power the planet for an entire year. Once we figure out how to harness that power, we will have a huge portion of our energy needs met.

[jarhead1976]

CH4

[bimetalaupt]

Apr 27, 2011 9:32:08 GMT -5 @jarhead1976 said:

CH4

Jar Head,
Methane is only a product of Cow Chips... Renewable methane is made in Stephenville,TX by use of anaerobic high pressure digestions tanks.. Great return as the other products make great organic mass for Earth worms that produce the worlds best plant feed. Organic!!

Or should I have said Bi-Product from Dairy production...Grow B.Braunii Race A & B that makes pure hydrocarbons from..Same algae as made the WTI in the first place.. Keeps growing and Growing....

Just a thought,
Bruce

[bimetalaupt]

Apr 27, 2011 9:32:08 GMT -5 @jarhead1976 said:

CH4

Jar Head the Exogenous,
on the other hand Methane (CH4) has been thought to be produced by power that are very high energy in the area about 50-100 miles( 100-200 K) deep in the earth.. LLL....

LIVERMORE, Calif. -- Untapped reserves of methane, the main component in natural gas, may be found deep in Earth's crust, according to a recently released report* in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS). These reserves could be a virtually inexhaustible source of energy for future generations.

The team of researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory, Harvard University, Argonne National Laboratory and Indiana University, South Bend, through a series of experiments and theoretical calculations, showed that methane forms under conditions that occur in Earth's upper mantle.

Methane is the most plentiful hydrocarbon in Earth's crust and is a main component of natural gas. However, oil and gas wells are typically only drilled 5 to 10 kilometers beneath the surface. These depths correspond to pressures of a few thousand atmospheres.

Using a diamond anvil cell, the scientists squeezed materials common at Earth's surface -- iron oxide (FeO), calcite (CaCO3) (the primary component of marble) and water to pressures ranging from 50,000 to 110,000 atmospheres and temperatures more than 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit -- to create conditions similar to those found deep within Earth. Methane (CH4) formed by combining the carbon in calcite with the hydrogen in water. The reaction occurred over a range of temperatures and pressures. Methane production was most favorable at 900 degrees Fahrenheit and 70,000 atmospheres of pressure.

The experiments show that a non-biological source of hydrocarbons may lie in Earth's mantle and was created from reactions between water and rock -- not just from the decomposition of living organisms.

"The results demonstrate that methane readily forms by the reaction of marble with iron-rich minerals and water under conditions typical in Earth's upper mantle," said Laurence Fried, of Livermore's Chemistry and Materials Science Directorate. "This suggests that there may be untapped methane reserves well below Earth's surface. Our calculations show that methane is thermodynamically stable under conditions typical of Earth's mantle, indicating that such reserves could potentially exist for millions of years." The study is published in the Sept. 13-17 early, online edition of the PNAS.

The mantle is a dense, hot layer of semi-solid rock approximately 2,900 kilometers thick. The mantle, which contains more iron, magnesium and calcium than the crust, is hotter and denser because temperature and pressure inside Earth increase with depth. Because of the firestorm-like temperatures and crushing pressure in Earth's mantle, molecules behave very differently than they do on the surface. "When we looked at the samples under these pressures and temperatures, they revealed optical changes indicative of methane formation," Fried said. "At temperatures above 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit, we found that the carbon in calcite formed carbon dioxide rather than methane. This implies that methane in the interior of Earth might exist at depths between 100 and 200 kilometers. This has broad implications for the hydrocarbon reserves of the planet and could indicate that methane is more prevalent in the mantle than previously thought. Due to the vast size of Earth's mantle, hydrocarbon reserves in the mantle could be much larger than reserves currently found in Earth's crust."

Founded in 1952, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is a national security laboratory, with a mission to ensure national security and apply science and technology to the important issues of our time. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

I was hoping you would chime in here B. I luv to hear about that algae! How is everything??

What are your thoughts on Co2 capture and injection for bio production. You say we need more Co2, what if we concentrate it for production?

I agree Arch, once infra red solar is viable, the game changes again!

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

B.C. firm ready to test green fuel:
www.calgaryherald.com/business/Firm+ready+test+green+fuel/4664371/story.html?cid=megadrop_story

[bimetalaupt]

Apr 27, 2011 22:27:23 GMT -5 Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger said:

I was hoping you would chime in here B. I luv to hear about that algae! How is everything??

What are your thoughts on Co2 capture and injection for bio production. You say we need more Co2, what if we concentrate it for production?

I agree Arch, once infra red solar is viable, the game changes again!

A++,
Supercritical CO2 is a liquid solvent to remove the oil from the outside of B.Braunii (algae). It is also the nutrient needed to make more oil.. The oil it produces ( race B) is almost the same as WTI so it can go into the crackers and refiner system with pumped oil and crack very well. Also you cam make pure O2 from the Pure CO2 so this would be great for Clean burning coal use as well because this process needs pure O2.

Now if we can do anything with our 250% electric use vs average German home? Cure for high prices is high Prices. The only way we will save is if prices go thought the roof??
Just a thought,
Bruce

[jarhead1976]

BImetal, Methane and its production ties right in with "Ahamburgers" original post. Check out the Sabatier reaction and the beauty in simplicity. Respectfully jarhead1976

[bimetalaupt]

Apr 28, 2011 9:22:09 GMT -5 @jarhead1976 said:

BImetal, Methane and its production ties right in with "Ahamburgers" original post. Check out the Sabatier reaction and the beauty in simplicity. Respectfully jarhead1976

Jar Head 1976,
Yes but I had to laugh.. As the H2 is more valuable in today's world then CH4. Much of the H2 is used to Crack large Hydrocarbons to produce gasoline or #2 diesel. The process to make H2 is called "Reforming" and uses CH4 as the Hydrogen source. One of the great new process is making a none Pt catalysis for the Electrolysis of H2O to make H2.. This would be a great use of excessive wind energy in the middle of the night.

They are working on a system to use Sabatier reaction to lengthen space travel to save the H2O and the methane . Space station uses this today.

Great input...
Bruce

[bimetalaupt]

Apr 27, 2011 22:27:23 GMT -5 Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger said:

I was hoping you would chime in here B. I luv to hear about that algae! How is everything??

What are your thoughts on Co2 capture and injection for bio production. You say we need more Co2, what if we concentrate it for production?

I agree Arch, once infra red solar is viable, the game changes again!

Arch and A++,
Also we have huge infra red heat from the centre of the earth carried by the salt formations that carry four time more energy up then rock..The formation can support heat exchanges for an almost unlimited power production.
From a paper on the subject...from LSU... URL at the bottom
Abstract

The fluids heated by the high thermal conductivity and vertical geometry of salt domes in South Louisiana have the potential to be an economic source of geothermal energy. The Gueydan dome is a piercement salt diapir in Southwest Louisiana lying along the Vermilion and Acadia Parish border. Isotherms indicate a thermal anomaly at the crest of the dome with formation temperatures of 62 ˚C recorded at 1346 m, which is too cold for a geothermal prospect. The shallowest salt encountered is at a depth of 1475 m, and the surrounding strata are Cenozoic sand and clay deposits. Previous geothermal assessments in the vicinity conducted in 1979 by Gruy Federal selected prospect locations off the east and south flanks of the dome for the Frio Formation. This study assesses the shallower, brine saturated Camerina A sand of the Frio Formation to the southwest of the dome where existing uneconomic oil and gas wells are shut in. Kehle corrected formation temperatures for the Camerina A range between 129 to 153 ˚C. The regional geothermal gradient for South Louisiana is 23 ˚C/km. Using shallow temperatures as a constraint, numerical modeling of the thermal regime and a temperature depth slice interpretation from well data indicates that the salt does not aid in increasing the thermal gradient for the Camerina A but instead regionally depresses isotherms because heat transport through the salt dome is more efficient. A hingepoint in the geothermal gradient at the top of overpressure reflects an increase in geothermal gradients through the Camerina A. However, limited well control to the north and west requires conservative reservoir volumetric estimates. Therefore, the Camerina A of Southeast Gueydan Field cannot be deemed a potential prospect based on proposed minimum bulk reservoir volumetric requirements of 1 km3 (Griggs, 2004). Numerical modeling of temperature fields around salt at deeper burial depths suggests that minimum temperatures required for binary power production can be reached through the heat focusing effect of salt domes when the rest of the dome is within the 100 ˚C to 120 ˚C range of the regional temperature regime.
etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-06092010-150854/

[jarhead1976]

BImetal, "This would be a great use of excessive wind energy in the middle of the night" < That almost brought a tear to my eye. , as long as your down wind! Anyway.... H2 is easy enough to produce, like you say through the electrolysis of water. I was just suggesting to Ahamburger to have a look at that Sabatier reaction and how it could be used in producing , energy (CH4), as the BI-product from the capturing of CO2. Respectfully.

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

Apr 28, 2011 4:08:26 GMT -5 bimetalaupt said:

Apr 27, 2011 22:27:23 GMT -5 Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger said:

I was hoping you would chime in here B. I luv to hear about that algae! How is everything??

What are your thoughts on Co2 capture and injection for bio production. You say we need more Co2, what if we concentrate it for production?

I agree Arch, once infra red solar is viable, the game changes again!

A++,
Supercritical CO2 is a liquid solvent to remove the oil from the outside of B.Braunii (algae). It is also the nutrient needed to make more oil.. The oil it produces ( race B) is almost the same as WTI so it can go into the crackers and refiner system with pumped oil and crack very well. Also you cam make pure O2 from the Pure CO2 so this would be great for Clean burning coal use as well because this process needs pure O2.

Now if we can do anything with our 250% electric use vs average German home? Cure for high prices is high Prices. The only way we will save is if prices go thought the roof??
Just a thought,
Bruce

Nice, that's what we need to see. The power usage, that's crazy, I guess raising prices will defiantly curb that a bit. Do you have the numbers on where it's being wasted?

Thanks for the tip jarhead. I'm going to look at that, sounds cool, especially when B starts talking about space travel. I luv that shit!

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

This is great news. The sooner that we can produce affordable renewable fuels, the sooner that we can ship more oil to the developing world.

Biomass Pretreatment Less Costly Than Expected:
hayandforage.com/biofuels/biomass-pretreatment-less-costly-0505/

[chiver78]

Apr 26, 2011 22:40:52 GMT -5 Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger said:

A historical approval of a project many years in the making, is a great place to start a discussion about renewable energy.

Government approves $1.24 billion carbon capture project:
ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/Government-approves-1-24-cnw-2356180101.html?x=0

SaskPower has chosen SNC Lavalin, one of the leading engineering and construction companies in the world, to oversee detailed engineering, procurement and construction activities at the Boundary Dam project.

Cansolv, a wholly owned subsidiary of Shell Global Solutions, will supply the carbon capture process. Hitachi will supply a state-of-the-art steam turbine - the first in the world designed to fully integrate a coal-fired power plant with carbon capture technology.

Construction on the project will begin immediately, with operations commencing in 2014. The new generating unit at Boundary Dam will have the capacity to generate 110 megawatts (MW) of electricity.

In addition to capturing CO2 for enhanced oil recovery operations, the Boundary Dam project will also capture sulfur dioxide (SO2) to be used in the production of sulphuric acid.

I haven't clicked links yet, but can I just whine about SNC Lavalin? sorry, but I don't see them as "one of the leading engineering and construction companies in the world". they just happen to have some well-placed offices. I've worked with this company in the pharma world, and I was not at all impressed. don't get me wrong, most of the crew was quite polite and genial, but I really left many meetings with my project management crew feeling like I needed a shower, after which I'd need to triple-check anything touched by that sub-team. that's absolutely the nature of my industry, but this was just ridiculous.

*chiver steps off soapbox, where she hardly ever finds herself when talking about work/vendors/engineers. this just struck a nerve. I'll update this post when I've had a chance to check out the links.

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

Please do, with a project of this size, it's an issue, something needs to be said. Thank you!

[tyfighter3]

Coal still does have a chance to be clean with projects like this going on.
www.futuregenalliance.org/faq.html

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

Clean coal is where we need to go. It's going to take along time to beat the price of coal, and if we can utilize the bi-products there is no reason to be against coal.

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

As much as I like infra red, these are renewables that work!

Chevy Volt plant will get 264,000 square feet of solar panels through DTE partnership
www.annarbor.com/autos/chevy-volt-plant-will-get-264000-square-feet-of-solar-panels-through-dte-partnership/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+annarbornews-mlive+%28Latest+from+the+Ann+Arbor+News+-+MLive.com%29

Toys 'R' Us building massive rooftop solar project
news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20061842-54.html

Toys "R" Us announced today that it plans to cover 70 percent of the roof of its distribution center, located in the leafy suburb of Flanders, N.J., with a solar installation.

The 5.38-megawatt solar project is a massive undertaking for a rooftop installation. Toys "R" Us claims this will be the largest rooftop solar installation in North America.

The Flanders distribution center is the largest distribution facility in the U.S. for the toy and electronics retailer. Toys "R" Us estimates that the roof spans about 32 acres. More than 869,294 square feet (almost 20 acres) of that roof will be covered in solar panels,

Bring on the acres, eh Arch?

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

Some more very cool renewable tech.

Ocean Power Technologies Commences in-Ocean Trials of New Generation Utility-Scale Wave Power Device:
www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/09/idUS42948+09-May-2011+BW20110509

[tyfighter3]

More on B Braunil.
energybusinessdaily.com/renewables/botryococcus-braunii-algae-contributed-to-existing-petroleum-deposits/

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

Great point sunrnr. That is something that you brought up before. Points of injection all around the grid.


SaskPower will continue to cut CO2 emissions:
www.thestarphoenix.com/technology/SaskPower+will+continue+emissions/4848333/story.html

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

Power-monitoring pilot cuts some Fort Collins utility bills by 3 percent
www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_18122814?source=rss

Solar power advances bringing down cost
www.timesunion.com/default/article/Solar-power-advances-bringing-down-cost-1398100.php

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

New Blade filter looks to slice CO2 emissions
www.thestarphoenix.com/business/Blade+filter+looks+slice+emissions/4871889/story.html

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

Keephills turbine turning in Wabamun project
www.edmontonjournal.com/technology/Keephills+turbine+turning+Wabamun+project/4875654/story.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3a+canwest%2fF264+(Edmonton+Journal+-+News)

Although just opening, K3 will soon be retrofitted with the technology that aims to capture up to one million tonnes of CO2 per year when it starts in 2015. The gas will either be buried in nearby deep saline aquifers, or sent to a new carbon pipeline for transport to central Alberta, where it can be used to enhance conventional oilfield production.

Project Pioneer would be the world’s first chilled-ammonia carbon-dioxide-capture system to be “bolted on” to an existing coal-fired electrical plant.

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

GE is making some really huge moves right now. With help from Mr. Gross on this one.

GE Buys Stake In Solar Power Plant Builder eSolar, Licenses Technology
blogs.forbes.com/toddwoody/2011/06/06/ge-buys-stake-in-solar-power-plant-builder-esolar-licenses-technology/

GM is on the right track.

GM refocusing product line
detnews.com/article/20110606/AUTO01/106060342/1148/auto01/GM-refocusing-product-line

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

Anti Hydrogen! ;D Onward and upward!

Canadian scientists 'bottle' antimatter
www.canada.com/technology/Canadian+scientists+bottle+antimatter/4899114/story.html


An Antimatter Fuel Inches Toward Reality
www.nytimes.com/1991/08/20/science/an-antimatter-fuel-inches-toward-reality.html?src=pm

Research supported by the United States Air Force has shown that a mere hundredth of a gram of antimatter could provide propulsive energy equivalent to about 120 tons of conventional liquid hydrogen and oxygen fuel, or enough to send a rocket to another solar system.

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

Fremont power plant on target for fall startup
www.toledoblade.com/Energy/2011/05/30/Fremont-power-plant-on-target-for-fall-startup-2.html

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

Turning Trash to Gold in China

www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=turning-trash-to-gold-in-china


Enerkem Raises $60M From Major Corporate Investors
www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/22485

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

GE, Harbin Electric bring gas turbine technology to China
www.elp.com/index/display/article-display/6577037306/articles/electric-light-power/generation/natural-gas/2011/06/GE__Harbin_Electric_bring_gas_turbine_technology_to_China.html