Brad -

the whole point of the second and third steps is to produce alkanes of the the same length as kerosene or diesel fuel. Unlike regular biodiesel, the compounds are chemically identical to those found in fuels derived from petroleum. All you need to do is get the mix to match the official fuel composition requirements, e.g. wrt to aggregate density.

NesteOil out of Finland has a process that works along similar lines, taking triglyceride-rich feedstocks and turning them into middle cut alkanes.

Apply this to algae oils and we're well on the way to a petroleum replacement.

It needs to be pointed out that animal and vegetable fats have unseen fossil fuel inputs, are vulnerable to climate and can't possibly replace more than a fraction of petroleum. Just to take the first remember that chicken was fed on grain grown with synthetic fertiliser delivered in trucks.

I'd prefer biofuels to come from weeds and trash.

Note that "Aquaculture" is one of the potential feedstocks listed. Algae are going to be the best high yeild, high volume source of lipids for this process. That it could also create straight gasoline and diesel is a plus. Is this tech a silver bullet? Maybe. We'll see how fast they can commercialize it.

Scott -

production cost is probably 2-3 times that of dinokerosene, which at present is not subject to fuel taxes due to long-standing international treaties on aviation.

The EU is considering tearing up those treaties that apply to intra-EU flights and then expanding taxation to flights into and out of the EU as well. It's entirely possible that renewable alternatives to conventional jet fuel will be taxed more lightly, just as on-road biodiesel is taxed more lightly in e.g. Germany. Note that GTL and CTL are alternatives but not renewable - indeed, they generate even more CO2 well-to-wheels than the regular distilled stuff.

Also note that LNG is not a viable aviation fuel today because of the geometry of modern commercial aircraft. Future BWB designs could accommodate a large spherical cryotank for this alternative fuel.

Hmm, wasn't there talk of using hydrogen as a replacement for fossil-fuel based jet fuels?

And also I remember reading years ago about zeppelins making a comeback possibly powered by nuclear sources. That could be an option.

The required volume of liquid methane wouldn't be all that much larger than kerosene (I calculated that you'd need tip tanks), and as long as you're burning it faster than it boils off you don't have to worry about insulation too much.  On the ground, you might want to run an APU and use it to power a chiller.

Methane could be used to run a much more efficient turbine engine, because of two features:

1. It's a cryogenic liquid and can be used to cool the compressor blades, allowing higher pressure ratios for a given turbine-inlet temperature.  This shrinks the engine and reduces the compressor back-work.
2. It can similarly be used to recuperate heat from the exhaust nozzle, regenerating energy that would otherwise be lost.

The potential aviation fuel market makes this just another cornerstone for aquaculture investments. It would seem that with all the petrochemical engineering around - there should be a short curve to lowering the cost of bio-aviation fuels to competitive levels.

If we include the cost of exploration, foreign adventuring, health and environmental impact on calculating the real costs of jetfuel - the $10 - 12 / gallon seems reasonable. About what this process costs at this very early stage. Ocean grown high lipid algae needs immediate attention.

We see great potential for DME as a clean alternative fuel . The present diesel oil is a major source of air pollution from diesel engine of trucks and busses in large city like Tokyo. The potential market of diesel oil substitute is larger than LPG. DME is one of ideal fuel for diesel engine. DME vehicles were demonstratively manufactured in Japan, China and Korea and their driving test already started. Practical durability fleet test of a DME truck is under going in Japan.

We are pleased to organise a conference on China taking the lead in the DME market in production from coal and Japan and Korea activities.

If you would like to know more on COAL to Syngas to DME developments, join us at upcoming North Asia DME / Methanol conference in Beijing, 27-28 June 2007, St Regis Hotel. The conference covers key areas which include:

DME productivity can be much higher especially if
country energy policies makes an effort comparable to
that invested in increasing supply.
By:
National Development Reform Commission NDRC
Ministry of Energy for Mongolia

Production of DME/ Methanol through biomass
gasification could potentially be commercialized
By:
Shandong University completed Pilot plant in Jinan and
will be sharing their experience.

Advances in conversion technologies are readily
available and offer exciting potential of DME as a
chemical feedstock
By: Kogas, Lurgi and Haldor Topsoe

Available project finance supports the investments
that DME/ Methanol can play a large energy supply role
By: International Finance Corporation

For more information: www.iceorganiser.com