Low-CI Ethanol Pathways Using Fuel as an Energy Intermediary
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current low carbon intensity energy strategies face challenges in reducing greenhouse gas emissions throughout the lifecycle of transportation fuels and hydrogen production, including inefficiencies in energy transmission, high carbon intensity in production and transport, and the need for specialized infrastructure and equipment, which can negate environmental benefits.
Innovation Solution
Implementing systems and methods that integrate alternative, renewable energy sources into feedstock procurement, transportation, refining, and distribution pathways to reduce carbon emissions, allowing low carbon intensity transportation fuels and hydrogen to be produced and distributed through conventional channels, making them available at traditional retail outlets without requiring special vehicles or infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If renewable power is generated at remote locations and transmitted to end users, then low carbon intensity energy is provided, but energy loss occurs during transmission and infrastructure cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses transportation fuel as an intermediary carrier to transfer low carbon intensity energy from renewable sources to end users. Instead of directly transmitting electricity over long distances, the energy is converted into fuel that can be transported through existing infrastructure, eliminating transmission losses while maintaining low carbon intensity benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the energy form parameter from electrical energy to chemical energy stored in transportation fuel. This transformation allows the energy to be stored and transported without the losses associated with electrical transmission, while the carbon intensity metric remains low due to the renewable origin of the fuel
2Object-affected harmful factors
If electric vehicles and charging infrastructure are deployed, then direct use of low carbon energy is achieved, but high capital expense and indirect carbon emissions from construction occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing transportation fuel infrastructure multi-functional by enabling it to carry both traditional and low carbon intensity fuels. This allows the same distribution network to serve multiple purposes without requiring separate specialized infrastructure for renewable energy delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replicates the functionality of direct renewable energy use through a different pathway - instead of electrifying the end-use equipment (vehicles), it copies the carbon reduction benefit by providing low carbon intensity fuel through the existing distribution system, achieving the same environmental outcome without the infrastructure overhaul
3Productivity
If conventional higher carbon intensity fuels are used in transportation and construction, then infrastructure development proceeds, but carbon emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing low carbon intensity fuel during the construction and infrastructure development phase itself. This ensures that the carbon emissions from building infrastructure are minimized from the outset, rather than addressing them after the fact
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using the low carbon intensity fuel produced by the system to power the very infrastructure that produces and distributes the fuel. This creates a self-reinforcing cycle where the system's output feeds back to reduce the carbon intensity of its own production process
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods to provide low carbon intensity (CI) ethanol through one or more targeted reductions of carbon emissions based upon an analysis of carbon emissions associated with a combination of various options for feedstock procurement, feedstock refining, processing, or transformation, and ethanol distribution pathways to end users. Such options are selected to maintain the total CI (carbon emissions per unit energy) of the ethanol below a pre-selected threshold that defines an upper limit of CI for the ethanol.