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Speaker asses the benefits of biodiesel
Michael Schreiber
Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: News
Robert Brylski, instructor of renewable energy at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and Mid-State Technical College, gave a presentation titled "Biodiesel: Transitional Transportation Fuel" Monday, Nov. 17. The presentation was given as part of the Science Hall Colloquium speaker series.
During his talk, Brylski reviewed the transportation fuel industry as it stands today and the challenges the industry faces tomorrow. He also discussed the benefits and drawbacks of biodiesel from a chemical perspective.
As the talk began, Brylski passed around a vial containing a sample of biodiesel. Brylski described the sample as being nearly perfect, saying it was "clear, safe, and not going to explode." Brylski added that a person could drink the sample and would be unlikely to get more than a stomachache.
After this brief introduction to biodiesel, Brylski started at the beginning, with humankind's discovery of fire. According to Brylski, humans first realized the energy potential in oils when they observed cooking fat dripping onto their fires, causing the flames to intensify. Brylski then traced human use of energy up to the present day, in which humans have become dependent on petroleum.
According to Brylski, human dependence on petroleum has resulted from the combination of two factors: dramatic population growth and drastically increased per capita energy consumption.
With demand for petroleum ever increasing, Brylski identified some major challenges for the transportation fuel industry. The greatest challenge, Brylski said, is that "we are at or near peak production right now. The era of cheap oil is over."
Brylski compared the quest for new sources of oil to the search for new land during the Age of Discovery. "We've found all the major deposits, all the major landmasses," Brylski said. "All that's left are the small islands."
According to Brylski, the declining number of new oil discoveries can be compared to the tail end of a bell curve, with fewer and fewer discoveries over time. Because production can never outstrip discovery, oil production will not be able to keep pace with increasing demand.
During his talk, Brylski reviewed the transportation fuel industry as it stands today and the challenges the industry faces tomorrow. He also discussed the benefits and drawbacks of biodiesel from a chemical perspective.
As the talk began, Brylski passed around a vial containing a sample of biodiesel. Brylski described the sample as being nearly perfect, saying it was "clear, safe, and not going to explode." Brylski added that a person could drink the sample and would be unlikely to get more than a stomachache.
After this brief introduction to biodiesel, Brylski started at the beginning, with humankind's discovery of fire. According to Brylski, humans first realized the energy potential in oils when they observed cooking fat dripping onto their fires, causing the flames to intensify. Brylski then traced human use of energy up to the present day, in which humans have become dependent on petroleum.
According to Brylski, human dependence on petroleum has resulted from the combination of two factors: dramatic population growth and drastically increased per capita energy consumption.
With demand for petroleum ever increasing, Brylski identified some major challenges for the transportation fuel industry. The greatest challenge, Brylski said, is that "we are at or near peak production right now. The era of cheap oil is over."
Brylski compared the quest for new sources of oil to the search for new land during the Age of Discovery. "We've found all the major deposits, all the major landmasses," Brylski said. "All that's left are the small islands."
According to Brylski, the declining number of new oil discoveries can be compared to the tail end of a bell curve, with fewer and fewer discoveries over time. Because production can never outstrip discovery, oil production will not be able to keep pace with increasing demand.
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Dieter
posted 1/16/09 @ 2:57 PM CST
"Speaker asses the benefits of biodiesel"
Eww.
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