Researchers Creating Algae Aviation Fuel
Algae fuel is getting another boost with the announcement of a $3 million grant to create kerosene-based aviation fuel derived from the substance.
Arizona State University researchers have already moved past the laboratory stage on the project and are working on a pilot scale production system. The research team says that cost reduction benefits are greater than with kerosene produced from petroleum.
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The researchers came up with the new fuel by identifying algae strains that can convert pieces of their cellular mass into oil containing high concentrations of medium chain fatty acids. The hydrocarbon chains that occur when the oil is deoxygenated are similar to those found in traditional kerosene.
According to the ASU researchers, their kerosene provides a competitive advantage because it eliminates an expensive thermal cracking process which is necessary for traditional kerosene production.
The new algae kerosene fuel is compatible with jet planes when mixed with a small amount of fuel additives.
And with the increasing speed of new developments in algae fuel, we may all be driving around in algae-powered cars and flying algae-powered planes within the next few decades.
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Do some emergency helecopters use jet fuel? Is this fuel going to make them viable in a fuel shortage situation or will it be primaily for military protection?
Any turbine-powered helicopter will typically use Jet-A fuel.
-jcr
nice article..
Algae aviation fuel? Imagine what kind of stuff we will be using as fuel in 100 years or even 200 years time….
Researchers Creating Algae Aviation Fuel | nerdd.net…
\r\nAlgae fuel is getting another boost with the announcement of a $3 million grant to create kerose…
Ew boy, I dont know about that. Nothing like having a fuel problem at 5,000 feet. I think I will stick with regular av gas.
Jiff
http://www.anonymize.kr.tc
We need it, gas is out of control
gas is finally getting better, i hope that doesn’t slow these types of efforts down.
ALGAE IS THE WAY !!!!
A good substitute for the winter heating oil used in the Northeast U.S. They use so much that diesel fuel prices rise in the winter.