[Gasification] An "Energy Rosetta Stone"

[David G. LeVine]

>Our "Rosetta Stone Energy Table" below enables anyone to translate 
>the obscure energy units we now use into the commonly understood kilowatts.

It is truly unfortunate that your "Rosetta Stone Energy Table" 
ignores Bio-Diesel and WVO as energy sources.  Both have exactly the 
same environmental costs as Biomass, WVO has similar costs to slash 
or tipping (i.e. waste that will need to be removed and transported) 
and equivalent environmental costs (if organic CO2 is free for wood, 
it is free for all grown products.)  Based on your chart, it is less 
expensive than Biomass.

Also, your chart totally misses some important costs.  AA batteries 
have an environmental cost based on disposal, as does Biomass ash.

You also assume that conversion efficiency is for ground based 
vehicles or similar uses.  Petrochemicals and waste oil derived fuels 
run in the 80%-95% efficiency range when used in good CHP 
designs.  That is unless you have a pellet powered vehicle and can 
measure the KW out vs. the biomass in.  While your "Rosetta Stone 
Energy Table" is a start, it is a flawed, biased start and needs corrections.

David G. LeVine
Nashua, NH  03060