Utilizing Geothermal Heat for Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Algae

ARI proposes to develop a modular, deployable hydrothermal liquefaction HTL) technology to produce biofuels using direct high-grade geothermal heat as the primary energy resource. Manufacturing biofuels using geothermal heat and heat-integration technology will reduce the biofuel production costs. By constructing a modular system, deployment to different wells is possible. This setup enables geothermal wells to be rotated sustainably. Furthermore, the development higher capacity geothermal plants may be justified, as the extracted energy is transformed into a chemical source of energy, thus enabling efficient distribution of geothermal energy to the continental USA. In Phase I of this project we will demonstrate the proof-of-concept on algal biomass mixtures. We will investigate the low temperature liquefaction concept. We will evaluate the energetic efficiency and commercial potential of implementing the proposed process to existing geothermal wells and algal farms. The tasks of the Phase I effort are: Build and testing an experimental HTL apparatus to characterize the HTL environment. Determine the optimum operating temperatures for the Phase II integrated design. Build an integrated flowsheet model to evaluate mass and energy balances Cornell) and economic variations in the design. Final report and preliminary Phase II process design In Phase II we will build a prototype add-on unit to be deployed at the conclusion of the Phase II investigations. Further improvements in the design of a continuous solids/liquid and liquid/gas separator will be done. Ultimately, the successful implementation of this product will result in a lower cost bio-oil, and more widely distributed geothermal heat in the continental US.