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UAF participates in $36 million synthetic diesel project with DOE Local researchers will test GTL fuel produced at Tulsa-based plant in conventional diesel generators typically used in rural electric power plants Patricia Jones PNA Contributing Writer
Researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks are preparing to start a two and one-half year test that will examine how synthetic diesel created from natural gas performs in conventional diesel power generators.
Such research could open up some savings in transportation expenses incurred by rural utility systems located near pockets of stranded natural gas, according to UAF researcher Chuen-Sen Lin, Ph.D., assistant professor in the mechanical engineering department.
He outlined the research project during a rural energy conference held in Fairbanks last month.
The $300,000 UAF study, which starts this winter, plays a small part of a much larger gas-to-liquids research project being partially funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. DOE is providing $16 million of the estimated $36 million needed to build a 70-barrel per day gas-to-liquids demonstration plant, located near Tulsa, Okla.
Construction of the GTL plant started in late August, and is expected to be complete in mid 2003.
Fuel created from the Tulsa-based GTL plant will be shipped to Washington, D.C., and Denali National Park and Preserve for testing in existing diesel fleet vehicles, in addition to the UAF diesel generator tests.
Koniag subsidiary heads up project Integrated Concepts and Research Corp., a subsidiary of Koniag Inc., an Alaska Native corporation with shareholders originating in Kodiak, is the prime contractor for the project. Integrated Concepts will manage the test programs for the fuels produced at the small footprint GTL demonstration plant.
Also involved in the GTL project is Syntroleum Corp., which holds a proprietary license for converting natural gas into synthetic oil. The demonstration plant in Oklahoma will be built using Syntroleum’s process for GTL, according to Kevin Mulrenin, vice president of Integrated Concepts.
The project will evaluate GTL fuel as an alternative to the traditional use of fossil fuels as a primary energy source.
Marathon Oil Corp. is also involved in the project, providing most of the remaining funding for the original demonstration project. In addition, Marathon is also funding additional equipment to better evaluate the probable cost of scaling up the demonstration plant to a commercial-sized operation. Marathon also plans to use the demonstration plant for operator training for commercial scale GTL plants after the DOE project is complete.
In addition to testing the commercial viability of the GTL process, the project provides an option for creating clean burning fuels that can help diesel vehicles meet new emissions requirements.
“From an industry perspective, it enables companies to monetize natural gas in a way not yet common. From a U.S. energy security perspective, it further diversifies potential sources of useful transportation fuels. And from an environmental standpoint, low sulfur transportation fuels will help meet our requirements for cleaner air,” said William Lawson, DOE associate director, in a press release about the project.
UAF tests start this winter During his presentation at the energy conference, Lin said that his research group would start their research work this winter, using regular diesel fuel. A number of tests will be performed on the 100-kilowatt diesel generator engines used in the research project.
“We’re still searching for equipment for the tests,” Lin said, adding that the research team has been talking with various diesel generator manufacturers.
Those engine tests include low temperature starts, measurements of fuel consumption, emissions tests, monitoring lubrication and wear of the engines, examination of the fuel injection system and seals on the engine, how well NOX and particulate matter converters work on the engines, evaluation of fuel storage and delivery system for possible leaks and overall diagnostic and monitoring of the engines.
Electricity generated by the diesel engine will probably be put out on the UAF power grid, Lin said.
Future tests may involve setting up the diesel generator in a village, testing the equipment and fuel in a realistic environment, he said. “We’re looking at two possible locations to choose one remote village,” he said.
Synthetic fuel to be trucked north Once the GTL plant in Oklahoma is complete and producing synthetic fuel next year, about 6,000 gallons of the clean diesel will be trucked to Fairbanks for the UAF generator tests, Lin said.
Next winter, he and his researchers will use the same diesel generators, but will burn the synthetic fuel throughout the same battery of engine tests.
The engine tests, when conducted at UAF, will attempt to simulate a “true winter load pattern of a remote village in Alaska,” Lin said. “We want to operate in the true weather conditions found in an Alaskan winter.”
At the end of the test period, UAF researchers will provide information on the impact of the engine performance using synthetic diesel, compared to conventional crude-based fuel.
In addition, the $300,000 study will provide information on engine impacts to the environment and the economic impacts of using the ultra-clean diesel fuel, Lin said.
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