Interesting alternative fuel

[bombloader]

This sounds like a really interesting alternative fuel:

AOPA Online: Grass for gas

Seems to be marketed towards aircraft, but it doesn't look like there is any reason it couldn't work it a car too. I'm curious how these guys will do.

[Frank Lee]

Switchgrass ethanol.

Probably didn't say the word "ethanol" because so many have a knee-jerk reaction against it.

[bombloader]

Specifically says in the video not alcohol based. Wouldn't think they would be so confident in using it in unmodified aircraft if it was ethanol. The FAA would have difficulty certifying that because ethanol picks up water and also tends to eat some kinds of fuel lines. They'd probably require you replace the whole fuel system in some planes. Plus, tends to reduce fuel economy because of reduced BTUs. The test pilot got the same fuel burn as 100LL. Recall info about running aircraft engines on ethanol, I think they increased fuel burn by 20-30%.

[dcb]

Problem is they don't bother saying exactly what it is, and so we can't tell how much is marketing tripe and straight up B.S.

But if anyone wants to play detective, and make some major assumptions about the validity of the claims:

Clues? the "Swift Fuel" stuff:
smells like a musty old locker room
is 104 motor octane
created from millet,switchgrass,sorghum,garbage?
Not ethanol, "don't have alcohol in the fuel"
Can use and retrofit an ethanol type facility.
Mixes with avgas
EGT is higher and CHT is cooler.
6.5 lbs per gallon, vs 6 lbs for avgas
meets/exceeds performance of 100ll without engine mods.

Hope that helps

[bombloader]

Smell would rule out alcohol it would seem. I remember somewhere reading it was technically possible to synthesize gasoline type hydrocarbons out of plant material. Can't be a form of biodiesel, since it runs in gas engines.

[Bicycle Bob]

I suspected butanol, but that is 6.76 lb/gal. Perhaps a mix with that?

[dcb]

I'm liking butanol as a major component, can be made from scrappy biomass, musky odor, gas engines can use up to 85% mix without modification, pretty close on the density...

Technically an alcohol, but willing to let that one slide as a verbal typo (speako?).

[solarguy]

I also immediately thought butanol. The smell would be the big tip off.

If true, butanol would have a somewhat better return for energy invested compared to ethanol from corn, but nothing close to biodiesel, and not an earth changing fuel.

On the other hand, we can't get fixated on a silver bullet answer that fixes all energy problems. There isn't one. So, I've got room for a few cellulosic butanol plants if the math really does work out right.

Finest regards,

troy