Converting Algae into Renewable Biofuels

Converting Algae into Renewable Biofuels

 

Colorado Springs, Colorado – February 12, 2015 – Springs Fab was engaged by Merrick & Company, along with Genifuel Corporation, to provide the fabrication solution of a hydrothermal processing pilot system for Reliance Industries, Ltd.  Springs Fab was responsible for the manufacturing engineering and fabrication of the Merrick designed facility.  The system uses heat, pressure and catalysts to chemically and physically convert wet feedstocks into natural gas or oil that can then be further refined into aviation fuel, gasoline, and diesel. The system is skid mounted with electrical, instrumentation, and controls components that are compatible with the standards of India, where it will be expanded to a larger scale after testing is finalized on the current system.

The technology originated at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, WA. The Federal Laboratory Consortium just awarded PNNL the 2015 Excellence in Technology Transfer for its work on the project (http://www.pnnl.gov/news/release.aspx?id=4180).  The current system will process algae, and as stated in this press release, “Unlike traditional extraction methods, which separate lipids out of algae to make biodiesel, PNNL`s process converts whole algae into biocrude, fuel gas and usable byproducts. This doubles the yield of biofuel from algae and cuts the cost of production by 86 percent.”

According to Jim Oyler, President of Genifuel Corporation, “This award demonstrates how effectively the Federal Laboratory System can work with private industry to convert taxpayer-funded R&D into economic growth for the country.  Typically successful R&D contributes many times over when it leads to a practical product, and this award recognizes the kind of collaboration that makes this possible.”

Springs Fab (www.springsfab.com), an engineered metal solutions company, provides engineering, design, fabrication, assembly, and testing services for large scale, specification intensive custom metal fabrications to a wide range of industries.  Founded in Colorado Springs in 1986, Springs Fab has fabrication facilities in Colorado Springs, Loveland, and Westminster, Colorado.

For more information about Springs Fab, visit www.springsfab.com

 

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