Corporation for Future Resources
Florida Renewable Energy-Compost-Fertilizer Technology
Contents
Abstract 1
Methanogenic Anaerobic Fermentation, MAF 2
CFR Process Overview 2
Leucaena MAF System 3
Biomethane 4
Compost-Fertilizer 4
Human-grade Carbon Dioxide 4
CFR's MAF Environmental Effects 5
Biomethane Applications, Jobs, Environment Consequences 5
Biomethane Engine Uses – Sweden – AT&T 5
Distributed Energy-Combined Heat & Power 6
University of Texas 7
Industrial Power Application – Volvo 8
Florida Biomethane Applications 9
Employment Opportunities 9
Compost-Fertilizer Microbiological Augmentation 10
Summary 11
Abstract
The Corporation for Future Resources, CFR, offers a methanogenic anaerobic fermentation, MAF, technology. MAF is the universal process that converts plant poly-sugars, cellulosics, and simple sugars to carbon dioxide and methane, biogas. There are millions of MAF applications most all of which are on biological wastes. CFR's MAF, a propriatary process, is not on wastes, as it converts a specific, agricultural feedstock to economically useful products with only positive environmental impacts.
Methane, separated from carbon dioxide is referenced as biomethane. Biomethane energy applications are identical to those for non-renewable natural gas. Under CFR's conditions, biomethane production costs are generally much below that for non-renewable natural gas delivered to a Florida application.
A solid co-product is formed from the non-MAF reacting components. In CFR's case, these are mostly feedstock lignin and nitrogen containing plant substances. The solid is shown to be valuable in many agricutlural applications, both economically as well as technically,.
CFR's MAF technology affords applications far beyond the specific example considered. Although CFR employs a single feedstock. many others are possible. With this and other specific feedstocks, CFR's MAF process can be easily extended. There are millions of underdeveloped agricultural acres in Florida and hundred of millions of such sites world wide that would so benefit.
CFR's MAF reduces atmospheric carbon dioxide without the need for disposal of water or other fluids as well as without negative impacts on the atmosphere.
Methanogenic Anaerobic Fermentation, MAF
CFR's methanogenic anaerobic fermentation, MAF, proceeds in the same way as the initial two steps forrage animals use when feeding; as found in:
Range Animal Nutrition by: J. E. Huston and W. E. Pinchak http://cnrit.tamu.edu/rlem/textbook/Chapter2.htm
Forrage contains fixed energy largely in the form of complex carbohydrates, …. and phenylpropanoids (lignins, tannins, etc.). …. The complex carbohydrates, etc. are generally impervious to mammalian gastric and intestinal digestive enzymes. …. Cellulose, the most widely distributed organic compound in nature, is a glucose polymer, differing from starch, as the beta linkages of cellulose are resistant in mammals …. Cellulose is of nutritive value only to herbivores that have incorporated anaerobic microbial fermentation in the digestive process (Hungate 1966). In the presence of cellulolytic microorganisms, exposed cellulose is broken down with relative ease.
MAF is the 'universal process' occuring anywhere there is the absence of air in the presence of oxygenated biomass. MAF converts such to biogas; principally methane and carbon dioxide in a ratio near 6 to 4, former to latter. MAF occurs in warm-blooded animal, to non-growing biomess 8” or so beneath ground level, in swamps and is the reaction producing biogas recovered from landfills among others. MAF occurs in appropriately designed digestors in waste water plants, in animal waste disposal systems, on millions of farms mostly in Asia, where if practical, biogas is used as the fuel for power generation, particularly when utility purchase prices are favorable, as well as an energy source for boilers or cooking stoves or gas lights.
CFR's Process Overview
Turning the process into one that is maximally useful as a renewable energy-compost-fertilizer solution is most effective in Florida's semi-tropical and tropical areas. CFR uses a defined biomass that can be employed in a significant fraction of Florida's agricultural areas to provide a source of renewable energy along with a solid, nitrogen-carbon based, organic compost-fertilizer co-product. The compost-fertilizer can be used directly or can be microbiologically augmented so as to be used under particular agricultural circumstances as described in a later section.
Under tropical-semi-tropical conditions in Florida, CFR's biomass of interest are giant, perennial, legumes, and as such, do not need a nitrogen amendment. If other fertilizer components are required, the biologically augmented compost-fertilizer can be added in quantities as needed. A giant mimosa variety, leucaana has been found to possess the necessary qualities needed for the process. CFR has grown leucaena in Polk County, Florida, in order, additionally, as a source of seeds; these seeds then allow for conventional, relatively inexpensive. seeding methods in project areas of interest. For additional leucaena properties, see:
Leucaena is freeze sensitive, that is, under semi-tropical conditions, the plant may die above ground, but would not be destroyed unless the ground freezes. Leucaena's seemingly dead branches undergo MAF and leucaena then regrows as the weather returns to normal. Leucaena does well under rainy conditions as long as there is good drainage and as such is unaffected even by hurricanes.
For feedstock purposes CFR grows leucaena in the bush stage. Bush stage leucaena is also used in many places for cattle. Australia has some 500,000 acres of leucaena bushes that are used for feed, sillage and grazing purposes. An interesting leucaena relative is the Christmas mimosa valued for its yellow flowers that bloom at Christmas time along the French Mediterranean coast.
Leucaena MAF System
An anaerobic fermentation, biomethane and compost-fertilizer project, may be scaled up or down, as appropriate to match the needs of a proposed program.
Assumptions:
1. One dry ton of Leucaena contains 0.70 ton of cellulose
2. Leucaena yield = 25 dry-ton/acre per year
3. The cellulose fraction is 90% by weight converted to biomethane and CO2
4. The MAF process yields a gas containing 60% biomethane and 40% CO2
5. Conversion rate = 7.6 thousand cubic feet, 7.6 MCF, equivalents of biomethane/dry-ton of leucaena
6. Biomethane production per acre = 25 dry-ton/acre x 7.6 MCF/dry-ton = 190 MCF/acre = 190 million BTU/acre
7. Dry anaerobic compost = (1 - (0.70) x (0.90)) ton = 0.37 ton (the fraction of a dry ton that is not converted to gas) One dry ton of leucaena produces 0.925 ton of compost-fertilizer after air drying; thus 23 tons per acre.
There are some 250,000 acres of phosphate related lands in and near Polk County of which some 100,000 are clay settling areas. These lands may not be currently suitable for planting without reclamation, funding for which has been associated with a severence tax on phosphate imposed by and available from the State of Florida.
Biomethane
As indicated, MAF produced biogas is used directly as a boiler or power generation fuel. However, CFR's proposed projects for the area of interest would not produce electricity from the biogas, but would separate the biomethane and carbon dioxide. This process may use several techniques, but CFR would use a distillation approach as that in Wyoming to recover non-renewable natural gas, As this gas contains carbon dioxide as the major component while pipeline natural gas is 90% methane, introduction of methane into a pipeline required the complete removal of carbon dioxide by the process indicated.
Compost-Fertilizer
In CFR's MAF systems, the compost-fertilizer would be handled where produced, while the biogas, for large scale projects, would be piped to a separation-distillation facility. The biomethane would be separated from carbon dioxide, presurized to meet pipeline conditions and placed into an existing natural gas pipeline for sale.
Human-grade Carbon Dioxide
As the carbon dioxide under CFR's MAF conditions can easily be converted to human-grade, the carbon dioxide separated fraction would be liquified and sold. This replaces such used by bottlers and hospitals and for freeze dried foods. This market is economically feasible as Florida currently must have this substance transported, expensively, into Florida from sources outside of the State. Such would be an additional profit center for CFR beyond the sale of biomethane and compost-fertilizer.
CFR's MAF Environmental Effects
Under MAF, each dry ton of leucaena is converted to 7.6 equivalent nitrogen gas MCF's of biomethane, 1/4 ton of carbon dioxide and 0.37 ton of organic fertilizer-compost. The carbon dioxide effect can be computed with respect to the compost carbon composition. The compost can be shown to sequester 0.95 ton of carbon dioxide per ton of dry leucaena. Further, the leucaena root system is extensive and deep and probably involves the removal of at least an additional, at least, 10% more carbon dioxide. Recalling that leucaena is harvested continously under standard photosynthetic conditions, using atmospheric carbon dioxide, continous reductions in atmosheric carbon dioxide follows. As indicated, CFR's MAF process does not release water nor other fluids or gases.
Biomethane Applications, Jobs, Environment Consequences
A variety of job areas are directly associated with CFR's MAF systems. Overall, MAF requires involvement; in agriculture preparations and maintainence, leucaena harvesting, transporting, processing, product handling and sales. CFR's system includes the use of other renewables; solar, wind, ground effect geothermal to minimize process energy related needs as well as the use of biomethane as the fuel for all farming equipment. As CFR's MAF is a process that involves several days trom feedstock input to product output, non-continuous energy from wind and sun can be appropriately employed without effecting system performance.
Biomethane Engine Uses – Sweden – AT&T
The use of biomethane has been shown to substitute for non-renewable natural gas when such is used in various engine applications, This not only involves employee training, but must involve U. S. product manufacturing, system installations, as well as the use of biomethane under maximum efficiency conditions, Although many biomethane engine examples have been published, using biomethane, as a vehicle fuel, would be best used for other then private passenger types. However, Swedish sources claim that they will eventually use biomethane as the only vehicle fuel:
Natural & Biomethane Vehicles: NGV Global - Issue 7 2010
Study: Biomethane Benefits Could be Greater than Previously Thought: February 19, 2010 -- Biomethane from refuse produces 95 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline, cites NGVAmerica from a Lund University (Sweden) research group report. Further, with a few simple improvements to a typical biomethane plant, the figure can rise to 120 per cent – that is, biomethane becomes better than climate neutral. In Sweden, there are about 20 similar plants to the one analyzed, producing biomethane for use in cars and other vehicles. The best use for natural gas – renewable and non-renewable may be considered in:
NGV Global News - Issue 47 2010:
November 30, 2010 – AT&T Deploys 2,000th Compressed Natural Gas Vehicle in its Corporate Fleet -- AT&T has deployed its 2,000th compressed natural gas (CNG) corporate fleet vehicle. This milestone is part of a $565 million planned investment announced in March 2009 to replace approximately 15,000 fleet vehicles with alternative-fuel models through 2018.
Distributed Energy-Combined Heat & Power
Maximum efficiency of biomethane would also include use in Distributed Energy Systems. Such systems, referred to as Combined Heat and Power, CHP, are clean, local energy solutions and are found in many sites around the world. -- Natural Gas -- even Renewable Natural Gas based:
DOE's Industrial Technologies Program (ITP):
Has identified combined heat and power (CHP) as one of the most important opportunities available today for increasing energy efficiency and reducing emissions. This article explains CHP technology uses and benefits, and ITP's effort to help the United States achieve a goal of 20% of CHP power generation by 2030. As our nation faces growing electricity demand, volatile fuel costs, environmental concerns, and power reliability issues, DOE's Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) is working to boost CHP technologies to greater levels of efficiency and further expand the use of this clean energy solution. With proper technical and policy support, the goal of 20% generation capacity by 2030 can be achieved, saving approximately 5.8 quadrillion Btu per year, and avoiding 848 million metric tons of CO2 emissions. This is equivalent to removing more than 150 million cars off the road.
University of Texas
An outstanding. long term CHP system, recognized by: Copenhagen, November 3, 2009: First Global District Energy Climate Award to The Utilities & Energy Management Department: "Full-service Campus Utility in Austin, Texas, United States":
The university CHP and District Energy System is a not‐for‐profit operation that serves the entire campus on a mandatory basis. The clients of the electricity, steam and chilled water are the students, faculty, and staff who study, research, and work on campus. The uninterrupted availability of services leaves many customers unaware of the District Energy System around them, especially with the 99.998% reliability demonstrated over the past 35 years. Customer satisfaction is most greatly expressed as a lack of dissatisfaction, as utilities can always be relied on for the critical research and education occurring on campus.
Since the plant was originally commissioned in 1929, significantly aged infrastructure still exists posing a challenge to improving the infrastructure in a manner that has not interrupted utility service to the customers relying on consistent energy. The university prides itself in having fully complied with all State and federal emission permits requirements though this has come at a significant cost. Funding for the improvements has had to be performed in a budget neutral basis; that is, energy savings have had to be used to offset long term debt service. Over the last 11 years the university has invested about $150 million dollars and has been able to do it on a budget neutral basis. The university is proud to have exceeded 90% combined utility efficiency for the first time in campus history in the production of electricity, steam and chilled water. In June and July of 2009 the campus achieved 92% and 95% total efficiency, levels that ensure monetary resources .… devoted to .... education and research.
Industrial Power Application - Volvo
Achieving near total energy efficiency, even for a few months, would be a prized goal for any community within the State of Florida as a means of attracting and keeping U. S. industrial installations particularly the type involved in applications that use biomethane as the energy source. biomethane could be the energy source, for example for Florida enticement of industry, at Volvo's Plant in Ghent; First in the World with Carbon-Dioxide-Free Vehicle Production:
Thursday September 20, 2007: http://biz.yahoo.com:
The Volvo Group can now present the first vehicle plant in the world that is completely free from carbon dioxide (CO2), Volvo Trucks' plant in Ghent, Belgium. The Volvo Group's efforts pertaining to CO2-free plants are fully in line with EU's goal for reducing carbon-dioxide emissions by 20% in Europe by 2020.
"Our ambition is to make all our plants CO2-free plants and Ghent is the first," says Volvo CEO Leif Johansson. "It is not an easy undertaking, but we are prepared to try different alternatives to achieve our goal for CO2-free production in our plants." Already in 2005, the Volvo Group decided to transform the Volvo Trucks plant in Tuve, Sweden into a CO2-free vehicle plant and work is currently in progress on the completion of the local planning and an application for environmental permits has been prepared. The Volvo Trucks plant in Umea, Sweden is also undergoing transformation to become CO2-free.
For Ghent, this will entail investments in wind power and biofuel to provide the plant with electricity and heat that does not add any carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. The Ghent plant decided to construct three wind power plants on the site, which will cover half of the plant's electricity requirements. The remaining electricity consists of certified green energy supplied by the Belgium energy company, Electrabel. A new pellet-fired biomass plant supplies 70% of the heating requirements for the Ghent plant and energy for the combustion process is provided by solar cells on the roof. The remaining 30% is provided by an oil-fired boiler that was converted to burn bio oil. The Ghent plant has an annual production of 35,000 trucks. The number of employees is 2,500.
Florida Biomethane Applications
What can be done in Florida, and in particular Tallahassee, can match the environmental impact efforts, as examples, by Volvo, the University of Texas and Sweden. The City of Tallahassee, under its utility umbrella could install several CHP systems:
1. A system of 60 to 75 MW at Innovation Park serving the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida A&M-Florida State University's Engineering complex and Innovation Park private companies.
2. A similar size system at the old Elberta Crate and Box site at Gaines and Lake Bradford serving Florida State and Florida AM Universities.
3. A 20 MW serving TCC and neighboring Technical Instruction Facilities
4. A 15 to 20 MW serving downtown and Florida State office buildings ,
5. Governor Square Mall
6. Tallahassee hospitals
Costs for such systems are from $1 million to $1.5 million per megawatt depending on size and other considerations. Much of what is listed above, if done efficiently could use existing natural gas contract supplies. Note that the all of the CHP systems listed above would cost less than that at the University of Texas who report that their updated installation is: “..... able to do it on a budget neutral basis”.
Biomethane could be supplied to Tallahasee from the same pipeline that receives the biomethane in Central Florida delivering natural gas to users further south such as Florida Power & Light. Thus natural gas removed in the Tallahassee area is replenished by Central Florida's biomethane, Tallahassee power users would pay CFR for the gas and Florida Power & Light is no less the wiser regarding its supply. Perhaps both Florida Power & Light and the City of Tallahassee's Utility can claim that they are both using renewable fuel.
Employment Opportunities
CHP's favorable energy cost structure would provide economic incentives for businesses and industries to locate in Florida. Technical education, through various educational sources, can be directed toward installation of and coversion to biomethane as engine fuel from to gasoline or diesel. Additionally, various levels of businesses can be established that manufacture standard fuel to biomethane parts as well as mechanic based businesses that replace conventional fuel components with biomethane units. Such would also include changeovers from non-renewable natural gas to biomethane as the energy source for appropriate engines and power systems. Substantial numbers and types of businesses could be established to perform such activities.
Compost-Fertilizer Microbiological Augmentation
MAF compost-fertilizer applications have been studied, in depth by Cornell University professor Harry Hoitink, A review of Hoitink's efforts is entitled: “The Man Who Protects Plants Without Toxic Pesticides” is contained, in part, here and completely in:
Hoitink ….. first rocked the world of plant pathology and
microbiology in the 1970s by proving that properly composted organic matter was not just a great soil amendment, but could actually suppress harmful pathogens in the soil and control fungal diseases more effectively and at less cost than toxic fumigants. This discovery eventually helped to end the common use of methyl bromide as a plant protectant and has made steam lines in greenhouses obsolete. The disease-suppressive materials in compost also controlled harmful soil nematodes that previously were kept in check with chemicals that can leach into ground water and drinking water and thus cause health hazards, not the least of which is sterility in humans.
microbiology in the 1970s by proving that properly composted organic matter was not just a great soil amendment, but could actually suppress harmful pathogens in the soil and control fungal diseases more effectively and at less cost than toxic fumigants. This discovery eventually helped to end the common use of methyl bromide as a plant protectant and has made steam lines in greenhouses obsolete. The disease-suppressive materials in compost also controlled harmful soil nematodes that previously were kept in check with chemicals that can leach into ground water and drinking water and thus cause health hazards, not the least of which is sterility in humans.
Starting about 1990, …. "As we identified one beneficial strain of soil microbe after another, it was apparent that some of them could induce systemic resistance to diseases in the plants themselves. The resistance actually travels up from the roots to the tops of the plants to stop infections before they get serious.
These discoveries not only opened a vast new frontier for research but
suggested a commercial application: Could specific compost products be
marketed to growers for specific problems? Once composters understand the basic "husbandry" of caring for soil microbes, it becomes easier for them to grasp how microbial life can with the right conditions, work the magic of dis ease suppression, explains Hoitink. In fresh organic matter, free nutrients are plentiful and both pathogens and biocontrol agents proliferate.
suggested a commercial application: Could specific compost products be
marketed to growers for specific problems? Once composters understand the basic "husbandry" of caring for soil microbes, it becomes easier for them to grasp how microbial life can with the right conditions, work the magic of dis ease suppression, explains Hoitink. In fresh organic matter, free nutrients are plentiful and both pathogens and biocontrol agents proliferate.
As indicated, above, MAF compost-fertilizer applications can be designed for specific agricaltural types; from strawberries to field crops to citrus, etc. These applications are most effective when supported by microbiological training to be established by CFR of a company microbiological laboratory.
Summary
The Corporation for Future Resources, CFR, offers a methanogenic anaerobic fermentation, MAF, renewables technology, CFR's MAF is a proprietary technology using the universally employed MAF process not on waste, but on a specific plant substance; a giant mimosa, leucaena. Under conditions in Florida's phosphate mining areas, mostly in the Central Florida's Polk County, remediated clay settling areas, some 100,000 acres, have been found to be agriculturally capable of producing exceptionally high leucaena yields.
MAF turns leucaena's cellulosic components into a renewable energy product, biomethane. A co-product is formed from the non-MAF reacting plant components, mostly lignin and nitrogen containing components, that is also shown to be valuable, both economically and technically. Use of the compost-fertilizer can negate the need for mineral fertilizers and chemical sterilization in agricultural areas. It has been found to enhance agricultural being particularly valuable for the type of crops grown in Florida; from strawberries to field crops to citrus. Further, the compost-fertilizer could renew agriculturally poor areas, as well transform desert areas, thereby assisting in the reclamation of both.
Biomethane, separated from its co-gas, carbon dioxide, is to be pressurized and then fed into a pipeline. Biomethane has been shown to replace non-renewable natural gas wherever used including in highly efficient power projects, These power projects are best known as District Energy Systems, also as Combined Heat and Power, CHP, systems, In addition. substitution of biomethane as fuel for motors of all types can lead to the creation of jobs in biomethane associated parts manufacturing and their mechanical fittings. This, together with the fact that both application areas substantial lower energy costs while reducing environmental impacts are prime incentives for attracting all types of businesses to establish their activities in Florida.
The MAF technology described possess applications far beyond the specific example considered. Leucaena is not a unique feedstock, there are many other with comparable properties. So are applications to millions of agricultural acres in Florida and hundred of millions of acres world wide. Compost-fertilizer use would greatly increase food supplies, quality and availability, wherever used. Again and importantly, CFR's MAF process affords reduction in atmospheric carbon dioxide without disposal needs for water nor other fluids and without effecting the atmosphere.
