Estimating Energy- and Eco-Balances for Continuous Bio-Ethanol Production Using a Blenke Cascade System

Jean Nepomuscene Ntihuga, Thomas Senn, Peter Gschwind and Reinhard Kohlus
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Jean Nepomuscene Ntihuga: Department of Fermentation Technology, Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, Hohenheim Universität, Garbenstrasse 23, Stuttgart 70599, Germany
Thomas Senn: Department of Fermentation Technology, Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, Hohenheim Universität, Garbenstrasse 23, Stuttgart 70599, Germany
Peter Gschwind: Department of Food Process Engineering, Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, Hohenheim Universität, Garbenstrasse 25, Stuttgart 70599, Germany
Reinhard Kohlus: Department of Food Process Engineering, Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, Hohenheim Universität, Garbenstrasse 25, Stuttgart 70599, Germany

Energies, 2013, vol. 6, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: Energy and environmental effects of wheat-based fuel, produced continuously by a Blenke cascade system, were assessed. Two scenarios: (1) no-co-products utilization scenario; and (2) co-products utilization scenario, were compared. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) model was used for analysis. The scope covered a cradle-to-gate inventory. The results from energy analysis showed, that wheat-based ethanol has a positive average net energy value (NEV), NEV = 3.35 MJ/kg ethanol with an average net energy ratio (NER), NER = 1.14 MJ/MJ fossils for scenario 1, while for scenario 2, NEV = 20 MJ/kg ethanol with NER = 3.94 MJ/MJ fossils. The environmental performance analysis indicated that in scenario 1, the strongest contribution to environmental impacts was from the ethanol conversion stage; whereas in scenario 2, it was from wheat production stage. The use of a continuous fermentation system based on Blenke cascade is a promising technology that increases wheat based bio-ethanol’s energy benefits. In addition, the calculated parameters show the potential to significantly reduce emissions level.

Keywords: bio-ethanol; Blenke cascade system; life-cycle assessment; wheat; scenarios (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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