William Northrop
This expanded uses project builds on previous research to convert diesel engines to operate cleanly and efficiently on ethanol. The effort will demonstrate an entirely new approach that overcomes the disadvantages of currently available systems.
The initial task of the project consists of a detailed review of state of the art in hydrogen production from ethanol and assessing its potential for demonstration at the pre-commercial scale.
Assess whether winter rye cover cropping and enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) can effectively reduce reactive N losses during the spring freeze-thaw period while maintaining high corn yields
This research seeks to set the groundwork for large-scale projects to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted from corn ethanol plants and convert it to renewable fuels using solar or wind energy.
While the environmental and economic benefits of electrified vehicles is clear, the technology has not yet made it possible for long-range trips. Corn-based ethanol could be a key factor in the solution allowing electrified vehicles to travel long distances, by producing an ethanol range extender.
This research will enable efficient and environmentally sound utilization of ethanol blends in internal combustion engines. Future engines may play a supporting role in electrified vehicles by serving as battery charging range extender (REx) engine-generators.
Currently, the market for corn ethanol is less than 15 billion gallons a year. A mid-level (20% – 30% ethanol) gasoline blend with the octane rating of today’s premium, if widely available, would allow automakers to increase the efficiency of future engines and reduce the cost of compliance with future fuel economy and greenhouse gas regulations.
The University of Minnesota (UMN) has demonstrated a dual-fuel hydrous ethanol injection system for use on existing diesel engines that can replace up to 40% diesel fuel use by energy with ethanol. We have also demonstrated that 180 proof hydrous ethanol production can save 10% in plant natural gas usage and reduce net plant water use up to 6%.
In this preliminary investigative project, the University of Minnesota team led by Prof. Will Northrop will design and construct a small reactor for partially reforming ethanol and ethanol blends at high thermal efficiency. The design is based on fundamental research that the PI has done under an NSF grant
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