Biofuels are fuels produced from plants of various kinds. This is in contrast to fossil fuels, which are produced from fossilized materials.
Hemp Biofuels
Bio-fuels are generated from the hemp seeds that can be harvested as a result of using a robust hemp variety. These seeds, in turn, can be converted into bio-fuels. Bio-fuels have several advantages over conventional fuels, e.g. diesel.
One important factor is that these are produced locally, creating employment in rural areas while reducing the need for transportation. Bio-Fuel-Cells (BFCs) are also important and promising devices for efficient transfer of any fuel to electricity, which is the most suitable form for many applications. However, it is important to realize that societies do not live on fuels/energy alone
Ethanol As A Biofuel
Ethanol is largely produced from molasses, a byproduct of sugar. Molasses is either picked up by the breweries or used in production of ethanol. Ethanol is an alcohol-based fuel produced by fermenting and distilling starch crops that have been converted into simple sugars.
All gasoline vehicles made after 1980 are capable of operating on gasoline/ethanol blends with up to 10 percent ethanol with no modifications.
Ethanol production utilizes abundant domestic energy feedstocks, such as coal and natural gas, to convert corn into a premium liquid fuel. Only about 17 percent of the energy used to produce ethanol comes from liquid fuels, such as gasoline and diesel fuel.
Ethanol has a high octane rating, which allows an optimum timing for engine ignition and has a fast flame speed in the cylinder, so the fuel burns faster, increasing the efficiency of the engine.
Bio-fuels are believed to be a source of clean energy. But experts have said that Brazil has cut down some of its rain forest so it can plant sugar cane to produce ethanol.
Biodiesel
Biodiesel is typically blended at 20% with petroleum diesel. B-20 is used chiefly by vehicle fleets, which get credit for using alternative fuel vehicles without having to purchase new vehicles.
Biodiesel does not add any carbon because it utilises the amount of carbon which naturally circulates between the atmosphere and the biosphere (photosynthesis). Conventional fossil diesel however, does add to the overall level of carbon by extracting carbon deposited in the geosphere (mineral deposits) and releasing it into the atmosphere.
Biomass And Biofuels
Biomass processing results in the end-products biochemicals, biofuels, and biopower, all of which can be used as fuel sources. Biochemicals involve converting biomass into chemicals to produce electricity; biofuels are biomass converted into liquids for transportation; and biopower is made by either burning biomass directly (as with a wood-burning stove) or converting it into a gaseous fuel to generate electric power. Biomass usually consists of organic waste produced by human, animal or plant activity.
Cultivation can grow material for producing bio-fuels such as corn, sugarcane, soybeans, palm oil, flaxseed, jatropha, and rapeseed. Biomass is nothing more than materials that were recently living organisms?in this case, plants and their by-products. Even better, it is a renewable energy source, unlike petroleum and coal, which once used are gone forever.
David Morgan Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_J_Morgan |
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