DESIGN, TESTING, AND EVALUATION OF A HYDROUS BIOETHANOL DISTILLER FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FUEL-GRADE ALCOHOL FROMNIPA SAP (Nypa fruticans)

摘要

To help reduce dependence on fossilfuels for mechanizedfarm operations, we developed and tested a distiller using fermented nipa sap with 7% alcohol content and diluted nipa fermentation liquor or crude bioethanol (15% concentration) to produce fuel-grade bioethanol for small spark-ignition engines.The distiller consisted of an internally heated boiler, packed bed column, and water-trickling condenser. Its heat source was a moving-bed rice husk gasifier using 17—28 kilograms of rice hull per hour. The distiller produced 14—15 liters of hydrous bioethanol (93—95%) using 200 liters offermented nipa sap for 6—7 hours distilling period Using fermentation liquor, on the other hand, increased its capacity to 18—20 liters of bioethanol (92 %) in five hours. Distilling rate varied from 3.4—3.7 liters per hour, using fermented sap, to 5.0 L h'1, using diluted fermentation liquor.Cost analysis showed that the USD2500 (PHP123,000) distiller could process fermented nipa sap and diluted fermentation liquor into hydrous bioethanol at USD 0.53-0.75 (PHP26.40-37.70) per liter and USD0.20-0.35 (PHP10.50—17.60) per liter, respectively.Hydrous bioethanol (92—95%) was found suitable as fuel for retrofitted gasoline engines powering a water pump, brush cutter, and pump boat. Distiller size can be scaled up to further increase capacity and reduce production cost of fuel-grade bioethanol.