[Digestion] PE-CNG A better name!

Mon Sep 10 08:10:27 EDT 2007

While the origins of natural gas have been debated for a long time; the
composition is relatively consistent and includes compounds not found in
digester gas produced by microbe--ethane, propane, butane, etc.

"The origin of natural gas and oil has been debated by geologists and
chemists for a long time. The most generally accepted theory is that natural
gas has been formed by a chemical action in the earth that involved the
marine organisms that were buried in the sands of what was then the
seashore.

As the ages passed, these sands settled very slowly and were overlaid with
sediments that become hundreds of feet deep. As this overburden increased,
the resulting pressure and heat solidified some of the sand and other
materials into rock formations.

Over the ages, some of these areas become raised again and then settled
under water again, where another layer of marine organisms resulted in
another layer of gas sand. These alternate risings and submersions were
repeated several times over millions of years, as evidenced by the gas and
oil deposits at various depths in the same drilling area. 

This theory answers many questions, namely the fact that gas and oil are
only found under a small portion of the earth. While there are other
theories, this one seems to be the most widely accepted.

Important Facts About Natural Gas:

Flammability range 5% to 15%
No color, odor or taste
Mercaptan is added for odor
Nontoxic
Burns with a blue flame
Liquefies at - 200 °F
Heating Value 800 to 1200 BTU's per cubic foot"

Whether microbial or geo-chemical; the result is two slightly different
gases.

A more cogent controversy is the creation of genetically engineered microbes
for each of the two major stages of digestion.  This is an area we are
involved in with our European partner.

Frank J. Heller, MPA
KATAHDIN ENERGY WORKS
12 Belmont St.
Brunswick, ME 04011-3004
207.729.6090
http://mysite.verizon.net/fjheller/

-----Original Message-----
From: digestion-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:digestion-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Warren Weisman
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2007 12:25 AM
To: fjheller at verizon.net; 'Dr. Ann C. Wilkie'
Cc: digestion at listserv.repp.org
Subject: Re: [Digestion] PE-CNG A better name!

I have been a large engine mechanic for nearly 18
years. I have a vague understanding of fuel systems,
including spark-ignited compressed gas systems.

The CO2 released during combustion of present era
biogas is the same amount the plants would release if
they were left to decompose normally. This amount is
more than offset by the amount of CO2 the plants
absorb for food during their life cycle. Hence, if we
burn present-era biogas in an engine, we are
contributing zero net greenhouse gas emissions. Not
little, but ZERO. In addition to running cleaner and
quieter and cooler.  

The CO2 from field gas is from an entirely different
geological age in the earth's history. That CO2 is not
supposed to be released into our present atmosphere.
This makes a profound difference between biogas and
Natural Gas in environmental benefits. 

That said. For this bus we will be using the 100 MMscf
of biogas currently being flared at our local
wastewater treatment facility, so we are capturing
"free" biogas that would ordinarily be wasted. I'm
pretty sure 100 MMscf will run one bus and we will not
be resorting to using other fuels.

If our local government would like to add more buses,
we will build some food waste digesters to generate
the fuel. 

Warren Weisman
USA

-- Katahdin Energy Works
<KatahdinEnergyWorks at verizon.net> wrote:

> I would caution you against using inventive,
> somewhat p.c., language in your
> grant proposal when at some time in the future, to
> keep your bus running,
> you have to resort to gases from other sources.
> 
> Other than time; there isn't all that much
> difference between our
> Manure2Energytm digesters and one using gas from
> ancient deposits of manure
> and organic matter.
> 
> What may be most important are the level of
> emissions from the bus; and not
> the source of the gas. Having the 'greenest' bus on
> the block is almost like
> have the most clever vanity plate; even worse is
> when you are passed by one
> covered in solar panels!
> 
> Frank J. Heller, MPA
> KATAHDIN ENERGY WORKS
> 12 Belmont St.
> Brunswick, ME 04011-3004
> 207.729.6090
> http://mysite.verizon.net/fjheller/
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: digestion-bounces at listserv.repp.org
> [mailto:digestion-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On
> Behalf Of Dr. Ann C. Wilkie
> Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2007 4:04 PM
> To: Warren Weisman
> Cc: digestion at listserv.repp.org
> Subject: Re: [Digestion] PE-CNG A better name!
> 
> All,
> 
> How about RNG-renewable natural gas?
> 
> _____________________
> Warren Weisman wrote:
> 
> > I think it was Alejandro who offered CBG and CNG.
> This
> > makes since unless CBG already stands for
> something
> > I'm not aware of? 
> > 
> > Warren Weisman
> > USA
> > 
> > 
> > --- Ken Calvert <renertech at xtra.co.nz> wrote:
> > 
> > 
> >>What about 'Bio-CNG'??
> >>
> >>----- Original Message ----- 
> >>From: "Jim and Amy Rankin" <ajrankin at westal.net>
> >>To: "Warren Weisman" <weiswar at yahoo.com>;
> >><digestion at listserv.repp.org>
> >>Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2007 12:26 PM
> >>Subject: Re: [Digestion] PE-CNG and CNG
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>>Warren,
> >>>I would say if you feel "biogas" isn't
> >>
> >>descriptive, what about "Bio-CNG".  I
> >>
> >>>think it would be more immediately recognisable
> >>
> >>than the "PE".
> >>
> >>>Jim
> >>>
> >>>James R Rankin, DVM
> >>>Cedarcrest Farms, Inc
> >>>Faunsdale, AL USA
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>
> >>>>I'm writing a grant for our biogas bus project
> >>
> >>and
> >>
> >>>>wanted to get the group's opinion on my use of
> >>
> >>the
> >>
> >>>>term PE-CNG for Present Era Compressed Natural
> >>
> >>Gas to
> >>
> >>>>distinguish compressed biogas from the already
> >>>>accepted term Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), or
> >>
> >>field
> >>
> >>>>gas, a fossil fuel. Let me know if this
> >>
> >>eliminates or
> >>
> >>>>adds to confusion.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>_______________________________________________
> >>>Digestion mailing list
> >>>Digestion at listserv.repp.org
> >>>
> >>
> >
>
http://listserv.repp.org/mailman/listinfo/digestion_listserv.repp.org
> > 
> >>>Beginner's Guide to Biogas
> >>>http://www.adelaide.edu.au/biogas/
> >>>http://info.bioenergylists.org
> >>>
> >>
> >>_______________________________________________
> >>Digestion mailing list
> >>Digestion at listserv.repp.org
> >>
> > 
> >
>
http://listserv.repp.org/mailman/listinfo/digestion_listserv.repp.org
> > 
> >>Beginner's Guide to Biogas
> >>http://www.adelaide.edu.au/biogas/
> >>http://info.bioenergylists.org
> >>
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> >
>
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> > Beginner's Guide to Biogas
> > http://www.adelaide.edu.au/biogas/
> > http://info.bioenergylists.org
> > 
> 
> -- 
>
**********************************************************************
> Dr. Ann C. Wilkie                          Tel:
> (352)392-8699
> Soil and Water Science Department          Fax:
> (352)392-7008
> University of Florida-IFAS
> P.O. Box 110960                         E-mail:
> acwilkie at ufl.edu
> Gainesville, FL 32611-0960
>
______________________________________________________________________
> Campus location: Environmental Microbiology
> Laboratory (Bldg. 246).
> http://campusmap.ufl.edu/
>
______________________________________________________________________
> BioEnergy and Sustainable Technology Society
> http://grove.ufl.edu/~bests/
> 
>
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> 
> _______________________________________________
> Digestion mailing list
> Digestion at listserv.repp.org
>
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> Beginner's Guide to Biogas
> http://www.adelaide.edu.au/biogas/
> http://info.bioenergylists.org
> 
> 
> 

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Beginner's Guide to Biogas
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/biogas/
http://info.bioenergylists.org