The EERC technologies convert crop oils to renewable fuels that are essentially indistinguishable from their petroleum-derived counterparts (“drop-in” fuels) and may be commingled directly with refinery production and transported to consumers through the existing pipeline system.

In its research on renewable jet fuel, the EERC has already produced varying quantities of different hydrocarbons; further optimization of different integrated unit operations is needed to support commercialization, however.

Product-specific activities of the EERC-Tesoro project include:

• Jet Fuel. The EERC will tailor its jet fuel technologies for at least two selected North Dakota feedstock oils, and a 2-gallon jet fuel sample will be produced from each feedstock. The samples will be submitted to the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Wright–Patterson Air Force Base for evaluation based on fuel property requirements delineated in US military jet fuel specifications.

• Diesel Fuel. The EERC will produce 5-gallon fuel samples from at least two North Dakota feedstock oils including crambe oil, which has a unique fatty acid profile that may translate to a significant fuel yield-based economic advantage versus other oils with more traditional fatty acid profiles.

  Samples will be submitted to AFRL and/or another lab capable of performing full diesel fuel specification compliance testing. Additionally, the EERC will arrange the evaluation of at least one fuel sample via combustion tests on a diesel engine equipped to measure fuel performance and emission parameters. A fuel sample of approximately 25 gallons will be produced to accommodate these tests.

• Naphtha Sample. Naphtha is a coproduct of diesel and jet fuel production and comprises molecules with a carbon chain length ranging from about C₄ to C₈. Naphtha has applications as a feedstock for the production of gasoline, fertilizer, and olefins used in production of polymers and other chemical products. 3M Company is interested in chemical products made from renewable naphtha. The EERC will work with 3M Company to evaluate the suitability of renewable naphtha as feedstock for generating products that meet 3M Company requirements.

As part of the project, the EERC will conduct a preliminary economic assessment of a full-scale renewable oil refinery. This economic assessment, coupled with a pilot plant design, will form the basis for subsequent commercialization efforts leading to a full-scale commercial North Dakota renewable oil refinery.

The EERC has already developed a preliminary pilot plant design as part of the previous DARPA effort. In cooperation with UniField Engineering (Tesoro Mandan’s engineering firm of choice), the EERC will leverage that to develop a comprehensive design package that can be released for bid solicitation.

The North Dakota Industrial Commission (NDIC) awarded $500,000 in cost-share funding. The NDIC award will become active upon receipt by the EERC of an additional $500,000 in funding from the US Department of Defense (DoD).

According to Rick Weyen, Tesoro Vice President, Development—North America, Tesoro is interested in commercial production of renewable fuels that work with existing Tesoro products and distribution networks, do not increase food prices, and are environmentally benign. The work with EERC will be performed at Tesoro’s Mandan, North Dakota, oil refinery.

Our role in the project is to provide technical support to the EERC in evaluating technologies and designing a process demonstration facility that would be fully integrated with our existing production capabilities.

—Rick Weyen

Crambe is a drought-tolerant oilseed crop with demonstrated viability throughout western North Dakota and the surrounding region. Unlike soybeans, canola, and other oil seeds, crambe produces an industrial (non-food-grade) oil, and costs less to plant, fertilize, and grow.

Resources

• Renewable Oil Refinery Development for Commercialization (EERC application to NDIC)