Any questions regarding this event OR to sign up for the mailing list, please contact:
Teresa Epperson / 859-257-0200 / register@caer.uky.edu
Organized by the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research
Thursday-Friday, August 14-15, 2008
Hyatt Regency Hotel - Lexington, Kentucky
Cost: $250.00
Open to the public
Nine engineering professional development hours are offered with this course
The development of low cost, high capacity processes for the conversion of biomass into fuels and chemicals is essential for expanding the use of carbon neutral processes, reducing dependency on fossil fuel resources, and increasing rural income. Although the recent "food versus fuel" debate has raised doubts about the benefits of biofuels derived from food crops, there is a general consensus that biofuels production will continue to expand, based increasingly on non-food crops.
This course aims to provide a broad introduction to the area of biomass-derived fuels, emphasizing technological aspects of their production. Both current and emerging technologies will be considered, including bioethanol production from corn starch and cellulosic biomass, and the production of biodiesel and so-called "green" or "renewable" diesel. Other topics that will be covered include the development of new feedstocks such as algae and sweet sorghum, and the economics of biomass utilization.
| Time | Schedule / Instructors | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 am - 10:30am | Registration and Coffee | |
| 10:30 am - 11:00 am | INTRODUCTION Dr. Rodney Andrews University of Kentucky, Center for Applied Energy Research |
- Setting the scene: current and projected energy demand - Where our energy comes from - Alternative energy sources |
| 11:00 am - 11:45 am | THE BIOREFINERY CONCEPT Dr. Mark Lyons Alltech, Nicholasville, Kentucky |
|
| 11:45 am - 12:45 am | Lunch | |
| 12:45 am - 2:15 pm | BIOETHANOL BASICS Dr. Mike Montross Dr. Czarena Crofcheck University of Kentucky, Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering |
- Ethanol definition
- Characteristics of feedstocks for ethanol - Starch - Sugar - Cellulosic - Conversion methods for cellulosic ethanol - Biochemical routes - Hybrid systems (gasification/fermentation) - Byproduct utilization (distillers' grains, lignin) |
| 2:15 pm - 2:30 pm | Coffee Break | |
| 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm | BIODIESEL BASICS Dr. Mark Crocker University of Kentucky, Center for Applied Energy Research |
- Biodiesel definition - Chemistry of biodiesel synthesis - Quality considerations - Biodiesel stability - Biodiesel feedstocks - Glycerin utilization |
| 4:00 pm - 4:15pm | Coffee Break | |
| 4:15 pm - 5:00pm | BIOFUELS FROM LIGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASS - THERMOCHEMICAL CONVERSION PROCESSES Dr. Jim Neathery University of Kentucky, Center for Applied Energy Research |
- Biomass gasification - Reactor types - Fuel feedstock particle size limitations - Pyrolysis/gasification mechanisms - Air blown/oxygen blown modes - Gas clean-up - Producer gas applications |
| 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm | Reception |
| Time | Schedule / Instructors | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| 08:30 am - 09:00 am | Continental Breakfast | |
| 9:00 am - 10:15 am | THERMOCHEMICAL CONVERSION PROCESSES: SYNGAS UPGRADING Dr. Rodney Andrews University of Kentucky, Center for Applied Energy Research THERMOCHEMICAL CONVERSION PROCESSES: PYROLYSIS AND LIQUEFACTION Dr. Czarena Crofcheck University of Kentucky, Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering |
- Catalytic conversion of syngas to liquid fuels: - Fischer-Tropsch synthesis - Alcohol synthesis - Biomass pyrolysis fundamentals - Pyrolysis reactors - Pyrolysis co-products - Hydrothermal Liquefaction - Catalysts in Liquefaction |
| 10:15 am - 10:30 am | Coffee Break | |
| 10:30 am - 11:00 am | THERMOCHEMICAL CONVERSION PROCESSES: PYROLYSIS OIL UTILIZATION AND UPGRADING Dr. Mark Crocker University of Kentucky, Center for Applied Energy Research |
- Pyrolysis oil utilization - Pyrolysis oil upgrading - Conversion of triglycerides to hydrocarbon fuels |
| 11:00 am - 12:00 pm | NEW FEEDSTOCK OPPORTUNITIES Dr. Mike Montross University of Kentucky, Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering |
- Starch sources (milo, wheat) - Sugar sources (sweet sorghum, tropical corn) - Cellulosic sources (agricultural residues, municipal solid waste, switchgrass) - Options for handling cellulosic materials - Hurdles to commercialization |
| 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm | Lunch | |
| 12:45 am - 1:30 pm | NEW FEEDSTOCK OPPORTUNITIES, cont. Dr. Mike Montross University of Kentucky, Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering Dr. Samuel Morton Lafayette College, Easton, PA |
- Oil Sources - Agricultural crops - Algae |
| 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm | ECONOMICS OF BIOMASS UTILIZATION Dr. Alison Davis University of Kentucky, Agricultural Economics |
- Production, harvest, storage and transportation costs - Tax credits/incentives - Solar - PV - Ethanol - Biodiesel |
| 2:30 pm | Final Comments |
Who should attend?