Researchers superheat energy sources


MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- University of Minnesota scientists have developed a process that "cooks" matter such as oil and sugar into a mixture called synthesis gas.
The superheating process works 10 times to 100 times faster than current technology and doesn't need fossil fuels to create the syngas, the university said in a news release. The work could significantly improve the efficiency of fuel production from renewable energy sources.
"It's a way to take cheap, worthless biomass and turn it into useful fuels and chemicals," said team leader Lanny Schmidt, a professor of chemical engineering and materials science at the university's Minneapolis campus.
For example, biodiesel, produced from soy oil, currently requires adding the fossil fuel methanol to convert the oil to biodiesel, Schmidt said. The new process skips the biodiesel step, turning soy oil right into hydrogen and carbon monoxide gases by heating it to about 1,000 degrees C. About 70 percent of the oil's hydrogen is converted to hydrogen gas.
The secret, Schmidt said, is an ultra fast flash vaporization used to heat the mass. He said the process is so fast and so hot that it vaporizes the fuel and mixes it with oxygen before it has a chance to burn and char.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International. All Rights Reserved