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Hybrid thermodynamic life cycle assessment of gasoline and ethanol blends

Arthur, Daniel Tettey

Abstract Details

2005, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.
The inevitable fact that some day mankind will run out of fossil fuels and the rising concerns over global warming and other environmental issues has catalyzed the quest for sustainable energy sources. Also increasing environmental awareness of industries and society as a whole has led to demand for cleaner and renewable forms of energy making the search for a clean renewable fuel more important than ever before. Ethanol from corn as a fuel is currently one of the leading alternatives for replacement of fossil fuels used in transportation, specifically gasoline. So much private and tax payers money has gone into promoting and supporting the corn ethanol as an alternative fuel for transportation. Corn ethanol is believed to be a cleaner alternative to gasoline, there is the need to fully evaluate corn ethanol relative to gasoline to find out the advantages and disadvantages relative to gasoline if any. This thesis uses life cycle assessment as a tool to evaluate environmental impacts for different ethanol and gasoline blends with data simulated using Greenhouse Gases and Regulated Emissions and Energy in Transportation (GREET) software. Process life cycle assessment of corn ethanol and gasoline is done. A hybrid life cycle assessment is done by expanding the boundaries of the of the life cycle assessment of gasoline and ethanol to include the rest of the economy using Economic Input-Output life cycle analysis. The cumulative exergy consumption and the cumulative degree of perfection of the gasoline and ethanol life cycles are calculated to compare their life cycle thermodynamic efficiencies. Transportation fuels used in internal combustion engines all release Global Warming gases, It was found that gasoline releases about 37% more global warming gases than ethanol. Ethanol is 116% and 114% higher than gasoline in the Acidification and Eutrophication potential category. In the Human health impact and photochemical potential categories, ethanol emissions from its life cycle are 629% and 92% higher than emissions from the life cycle of gasoline. Corn ethanol has a bright future as a gasoline replacement but this can only be realized if the yield of corn cultivation can be significantly increased without increase in nitrogenous and phosphoric fertilizer. Also the yield of the fermentation should be better than what it is now without increase in energy input. Corn ethanol can not replace gasoline under the current conditions but the use of ethanol as oxygenate or gasoline extender is sustainable from the results obtained.
Bhavik R. Bakshi (Advisor)
David Tomasko (Committee Member)
88 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Arthur, D. T. (2005). Hybrid thermodynamic life cycle assessment of gasoline and ethanol blends [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1406030567

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Arthur, Daniel. Hybrid thermodynamic life cycle assessment of gasoline and ethanol blends. 2005. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1406030567.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Arthur, Daniel. "Hybrid thermodynamic life cycle assessment of gasoline and ethanol blends." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2005. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1406030567

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)