Part 2: Biofuels INOTE: The biofuel ope of Biodiesel is another option; but curr

Question

Part 2: Biofuels INOTE: The biofuel ope of Biodiesel is another option; but currently most USA vehicles use pasolime, hence we will only examine ethanol.J Basic facts: USA current Gasoline consumpt ves must deliver the equivalent amount of energy A gallon of Ethanol provides 80% of the mileage of a gallon of gasoline. l Bushel of Corn yields 2.7 gallons of Ethanol. Average corn harvest is about 160 bushels per acre (per year). Total dry biomass yield of cropland (grains: waste) -4 tons/acre (per year). Cellulose (pilot-plant conversion): 1 ton dry40 gallon Ethanol Total USA cropland = 53000 square-miles. Percentage of total USA cropland used for Cons ca. 25% a. Corn-produced E10 (10% of Gasoline replaced by Ethanol). This goal is the official Congress mandate that has been met; with EPA recently certifying that ,5% can be allowed without harm to most cars on the road What percentage of current USA corn-production was converted to Ethanol to achieve this 10% goal? [NOTE: don't worry about mileage-change for this question; just assume 10% direct replacernent of ANNUAL gasoline.] b. Entire USA Corn-what Percent of vehicle fuel? Assume that we convert ALL of USA current corn to Ethanol. Convert this to the equivalent Gasoline (asing the 80% lower Ethanol factor). (1) How many gallons of equivalent Gasoline is the maximum from USA current Corn? (2) What percent of USA gasoline usage could be satisfied by this entire-Corn usage? (3) What does this imply? c. Entire USA cropland biomass Let's convert ALL the annual biomass yield of cropland (the grains, grasses, stalks, waste, etc.) to Ethanol, based on the Cellulose pilot-plant conversion. Convert this to equivalent Gasoline (using the 80% lower Ethanol factor). (1) How many gallons of equivalent Gasoline is the maximum from USA total cropland biomass? (2) What percent of USA gasoline usage could be satisfied by this entire-cropland usage? (3) What does this imply?

Explanation / Answer

Ans. As per data:

1. 300 million gallons/day of Gasoline = 360 million gallons/day of Ethanol {a gallon of Ethanol produces 80% mileage as compared to Gasoline i.e., 20% less}

2. 1 bushel of corn = 2.7 gallons of ethanol ;

for, 360 million gallon of ethanol = 133.33 millions of bushels of corn

a. For 10% of replacement of gasoline from ethanol= 360 million/10 =36 million gallons / day

For a year, 36 million * 365 days= 13140 million gallons/day

b. Average corn harvest = 160 bushels per acres per year

1 bushel of corn = 2.7 gallons of ethanol

So, 160 bushels of corn = 2.7 * 160 = 432 gallons of ethanol per acres per year

1 sq. mile= 640 acres

530,000 sq mile = 33,92,00,000 acres

25% of cropland= Corn producing i.e., 33,92,00,000 acres * 1/4 = 84800000

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