Hydrous Ethanol reducing costs and

energy use
HYDROUS
Outline
Where does the idea originate from?

Technical understandings

Tests / Studies

Advantages

Conclusion
Experimental work
Key idea:

Investigating means of improving
process technologies used for
ethanol dehydration
If we cant get the water out, then lets see if we can
leave it in! The origin of the idea in a nutshell
A provisional patent that PDC filed in May, 2005 at USPTO.
In principle a liquid-liquid extraction column can be used to extract
ethanol from an ethanol-water mixture into a gasoline stream. This
presumes that the two liquids can be totally separated, but
researchers found this was not the case with hydrous ethanol. In the
top of the extractor, the densities of the two liquids were similar and
took a long time to completely disengage, which led to prohibitively
large extractor volumes that were operationally too expensive.
The further investigation that followed revealed previously
undocumented aspects of ethanol-water-gasoline fuel blending
properties, and unrealized potential to advance ethanol production
and use.
HEs International Patent
Technical understandings Conventional
wisdom in blending
Gasoline and water do not mix (2-liquid-phase system).
Ethanol has to be free of water to be blended in gasoline when
blended in small quantities.
Blends of dry ethanol with gasoline can pick-up water, e.g. from air
humidity.

Quality specifications: water content in Fuel Ethanol
Ethanol used in Europe contains max 0.2% water
USA, ethanol with max. 1% water
HE Blends are based on 96% Ethanol containing 4% water


Technical understandings Conventional
wisdom in blending
20%
40%
60%
80%
ETHANOL
WATER
20%
40%
60%
80%
GASOLINE 20% 40% 60% 80%
Weight Percent Gasoline
Whats new in blending? New patented insight
20%
40%
60%
80%
ETHANOL
WATER
20%
40%
60%
80%
GASOLINE 20% 40% 60% 80%
Weight Percent Gasoline
Area of
interest
Water tolerances in ethanol/gasoline blends
E5-E6 almost the worst choice from a water tolerance perspective
E10 and higher blends are far better

Hydrous ethanol can be used for blending in place of anhydrous
ethanol, when a minimum ethanol percentage and proper fuel
formulation practices are maintained

Existing test methods for water tolerance need to be revisited
ASTM withdrew them already!
Add water + ethanol instead of water separately

Whats new in blending - summary
HE Blends has patented:
Up to 50% ethanol
From 1 to 10% water

Confirmation example: research lab Major Oil Company
Straight gasoline: haziness observed at -5C
Straight gasoline + 5% hE: haziness observed at -34C
10, 15 and 20% hE blends: haziness not detected at -60C

Phase separation is not observed in any of the above blends!


Completed Tests
Hydrous E15 in a standard VW Golf 5 FSI meets EU4 exhaust
emission limits, without engine optimization (tested by SGS Drive
Technology Center, Austria & TNO Automotive, The Netherlands)
Tested temperature range (C): -20, -7, +20, +35

Lower fuel consumption first indication


Observations & tests fuel consumption
160%
140%
120%
100%
80%
60%
Area of interest
Euro95
Test Observations hE15
Observations by VW distributor, hE15 test car, 32 kkm over 1 year
Cleaner engine interior, no engine deposits
No damage to seals, gaskets, fuel system or whatsoever

Note: Test car is not modified or optimized, just a
standard VW Golf V as could be bought at your local
car distributor! 072008: successful 50kkm

Study Compares Use of Hydrous and Anhydrous Ethanol
Comparative testing by engineers at Orbital Corporation of hydrous
(E93h, E87h, E80h) and anhydrous (E100) ethanol fuels on a direct
injection multi-cylinder turbocharged engine found that the engine
may be operated at high load with the same output and efficiency, with
either hydrous or anhydrous ethanol.

Orbital published its results in an SAE paper
presented at Congresso SAE Brasil in
November, 2007.
E-20 Test Results - State of Minnesota

Results of drivability and compatibility tests by the State of
Minnesota have found that motor vehicles operating on a 20-
percent blend of ethanol fuel will perform as well as those
running on 10-percent ethanol or gasoline.

The tests also found that using the higher E-20 ethanol blends
did not cause significant problems for a wide range of materials,
including metals, plastics, rubbers and fuel pumps used in
vehicle fuel systems.

The study used nationally recognized standards and protocols
to ensure research quality. It was conducted at Minnesota State
University Mankato and the University of Minnesota.
http://www.mda.state.mn.us/renewable/ethanol/default.htm
Current Tests and Activities
Joint research project between German and Dutch governments on
optimal percentage of ethanol and water in gasoline @ FEV.

Market introduction of various HE blends, via Dutch licensee
July 08: hE15 biosuper introduced in Netherlands market by
Minister of Environmental affairs and Ambassador of Brazil
Project with Province of Noord-Brabant
BEST-Europe project Rotterdam area

Marketing and testing programs in a.o. African countries, Indonesia

North and South American in introductory stage

Current tests and activities
Advantages of Hydrous Ethanol
Save Capex & Opex
Lower production cost
Less energy use in production

Less GHG production well-to-wheel

Higher Ethanol Production Facility Productivity
Increases throughput volume
Reduces processing complexity and time (debottlenecking?)

Ethanol/Gasoline Fuel Distribution System Benefits
Lower handling costs
Fewer water uptake issues
Helps facilitate pipeline transport


Thank you, for your attention
We invite you to discuss your ideas and vision with us