Talking Ethanol w/ David Blume - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

bennelson · 02-20-2012, 04:28 PM

Anyone interested in alcohol as a fuel (engine fuel, cooking fuel, lighting fuel...) probably knows of David Blume.

I've met him several times. He wrote the BIBLE of ethanol.
His web page is Welcome to Alcohol Can Be a Gas! | Permaculture & Alcohol Can Be A Gas

Here's a YouTube post of a recent radio program he was on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FZhTUtam3k

In it, he mentions that some of his students threw a "Renewable Energy Birthday Party" for him. I was there. It was fun. We all did short presentations on whatever we have been working on; electric cars, ethanol, algae-fuel, gasifiers, permaculture, and more. It was pretty cool.

Listen to the radio program, and checkout his web page. He's a smart guy who's really thought all this stuff out.

bennelson · 02-20-2012, 04:29 PM

Part two of that radio program

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF_pp1lKf80

drmiller100 · 02-21-2012, 08:51 PM

Next time you see David, ask him when was the last time he actually, personally, made ethanol.

His "bible" is sort of helpful, but when you get down to the nitty gritty of trying to make it very few of his "recipes" actually work.

123 · 02-24-2012, 04:39 PM

I agree with you 100%.

I am also very familiar with David Blume, seen him talk several times. The group I worked with for a while that makes ethanol hired Blume to do some consulting work and when all was said and done they felt like it was not a good use of their money.

I think he should be a PR person for ethanol because thats what he is good at and leave the details of making ethanol to other people.

Unfortunately I have met other people like David when it comes to ethanol.

TomFisher · 04-08-2012, 12:50 AM

I have not made ethanol yet, so I can't speak with certainty. I've read his book, and watched his dvd, and seemed to me to make a lot of sense. So, I'm confused.

If not David, who has the right information?

Do either of you make and use ethanol? Who do you follow for instruction?

I'd appreciate your input.

Tom

TomFisher · 04-08-2012, 12:52 AM

Anyone in the USA, and especially Washington state, who makes ethanol, I'd like to talk to.

Tom