Posters presented at the October 16, 2006 Deans’ Forum on Energy Security and Sustainability

Renewable Energy: Bioenergy

1: Utilizing GIS to Estimate the Availability of Woody Biomass in Virginia for Bioenergy Production

The goal of this research was to collect information on the types, quantities and location of wood residues and other woody materials produced in Virginia that could be available for use as bio-energy or other applications. Areas of interest include materials from waste generated from forest products companies by SIC codes by County. Once the information was collected, it was incorporated into a GIS format so that strategies can be developed that will utilizes these materials, which should reduce wildfire risk, environmental concerns and wood waste, while providing management opportunities to improve the health and sustainability of the forests in Virginia. By identifying the location and quantities of various woody materials, this research also has the potential to develop new markets and increase jobs in a number of rural areas. The GIS based information also allows for easier updates of information in the future. This research provides valuable information toward the expanded use of bio-energy in Virginia. This research was sponsored by the Virginia Dept. of Forestry, and the Virginia Dept. of Mines Minerals and Energy and the Virginia Forest Products Association.

Omid Parhizkar, 231-7107, Dept: Wood Science and Forest Products, Mail code: 0503, Affiliation: graduate student

Bob Smith, 231-9759, Dept: Wood Science and Forest Products, Mail code: 0503, Affiliation: faculty

6: Constraints to Locating a Bioenergy Facility in Gretna, Virginia

The USDOE has suggested the US can produce 1 billion tons of bioenergy feedstock annually. Virginia could contribute significantly to this goal, with soils and a climate that can sustain high levels of productivity of both woody and herbaceous biomass, i.e., lignocellulosics. The technologies for biomass combustion and for converting lignocellulosics into liquid fuels and chemicals are advancing to the point that a bioenergy facility can employ multiple feedstocks. For example, herbaceous biomass could be used for half the year, and hardwood chips could be the feedstock for the other half. Piedmont Virginia could be especially well positioned to attract bioenergy production facilities because of its large forestry resource combined with good availability of land to produce herbaceous biomass. In our analysis, the ultimate constraints on locating a bioenergy facility in Piedmont Virginia are more likely to be sociological or economic than technological or environmental. A 25-ton/hr plant at Gretna, VA, operating solely on switchgrass would require committing to switchgrass production 57% of the existing cropland within a 20-mile radius of Gretna. If such a facility were to include a 6-month woody biomass campaign, the cropland acreage required would be reduced to 28%, still a significant shift in the pattern of land use. Before (or as) investors might commit to locating a bioenergy facility in Gretna, VA, landowners in the six or seven counties surrounding Gretna must commit to an atypical (for Virginia) level of monoculture. A key step to attracting a bioenergy facility, then, will be generating community leadership to persuade enough landowners to grow the feedstock.

John Cundiff, 231-7603, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: faculty

David J. Parrish, Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences

7: Round Bale Unroller

The round bale is ubiquitous in the Southeast. The rounded top sheds water, thus it can be stored outside with negligible deterioration. A storage study done 10 years ago at Virginia Tech measured a total (storage + handling) loss less than 5% for switchgrass bales storage outside for six months. The round bale is an attractive option for the harvest, storage, and transport of herbaceous biomass, such as switchgrass, from the field to a bioenergy facility. In contrast to competing storage and transportation systems, round baling is a mature technology that has been widely adopted for hay harvest throughout the Southeast. The first unit operation at a bioenergy plant is size reduction. In order for round bales to be accepted at the plant, there must be a cost-effective way to chop the hay. Tub grinders have been used, but this technology is energy and maintenance intensive. A commercial bale unroller (SIMCO, Cochran, GA) installed on Allendale Farms, Farmville, VA was modified to achieve the productivity needed at a bioenergy plant. Preliminary testing has proven the potential of the concept being developed. Continued testing and development is needed to achieve the goal of 1 bale/min. Equipment donations have been received from Amadas Industries (largest agricultural equipment manufacturer in Virginia) and Case New Holland (CNH) to continue the research. Poster reports the progress made.

John Cundiff, 231-7603, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: faculty

Christian Mariger, 231-6957, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: faculty

13: Producing omega-3 fatty acids rich microalgae from biodiesel byproduct for use as chicken feeds

Glycerol represents the major byproduct in the biodiesel industry. In general, production of 100 pound of biodiesel yields ~10 pound of glycerol. The current market demand for glycerol in the U.S is about 600 million. With the expansion of biodiesel industry, it is estimated that there will be 1 billion pounds of glycerol produced in next few years. In general, the glycerol derived from biodiesel industry is impure and of little economic value, it is prohibitively expensive to convert and purify this crude glycerol into material that can be used for the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetics industries. As a result, biodiesel producers must seek other methods for its disposal. In this project, we proposed to develop an alternative for utilizing those excess glycerol by growing microalgae. The algae can use glycerol as "food source" to support their growth. At the same time, the algae accumulate large quantity of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in their bodies. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have proved therapeutic capabilities against cardiovascular diseases, cancers, schizophrenia, and most recently noted, Alzheimer’s. By feeding algae with glycerol produced from biodiesel plants, the omega-3 algae biomass can be produced at a low cost. Currently, Zhiyou Wen at Biological System Engineering Department is collaborating with Curtis Novak of the Animal and Poultry Sciences Department to explore the possibility of feeding the algal biomass to laying hens. By this practice, the omega-3 fatty acids will be converted into eggs, which will benefit the consumers eventually.

Zhiyou Wen, 540 231 9356, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: faculty

Curtis Novak, 540 231 5087, Dept: Animal and Poultry Sciences, Mail code: 0306, Affiliation: faculty

21: Managing Switchgrass as an Energy Crop

Switchgrass is a promising bioenergy feedstock. With USDOE support from 1985 to 2002, we have studied switchgrass’ productivity and considered how it might best be managed as an energy crop. The work has shown that the species has great biomass production potential. Stands appear to be truly perennial, showing no indication of declining productivity if properly managed; but management as an energy crop must take into consideration the biology of the species. Based on 17 years of study, we suggest several strategies for managing switchgrass as an energy crop in the upper Southeast. 1) It is preferably established with no-till methods, and is able to reach full production potential (10 to 20 Mg ha-1 yr-1 depending on site) by its second year. 2) Cultivar selection should be site-specific. Lowland cultivars may be more productive than upland cultivars, with significant variation occurring within the two types. 3) Harvest methods should be cultivar-specific. For lowland cultivars, cutting once at the end of the season (after aboveground biomass has died back) may provide as much biomass as two harvests. For upland cultivars, two cuts per season are needed to achieve as much yield as lowland cultivars. 4) Applying 50 kg N ha-1 yr-1 will sustain maximal yields when biomass is harvested only after tops die back. Higher rates of N may be deleterious to stands cut a single time. 5) Harvest only after dieback of tops. Standing biomass declines by ~10% as tops die, but harvesting after senescence maintains stand vigor, reduces N requirements, and may provide a higher quality feedstock. 6) In favorable years, biomass may be harvested as late as January or February with no significant loss of yield, increasing the window for harvest and reducing fixed costs.

David Parrish, 231-9778, Dept: Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Mail code: 0404, Affiliation: faculty

John Fike, 231-8654, Dept: Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Mail code: 0404, Affiliation: faculty

Dale Wolf, Dept: Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Mail code: 0404, Affiliation: faculty

22: N Fertilization Strategies for Switchgrass Managed as an Energy Crop

Interest in the use of switchgrass as an energy feedstock has prompted questions about its N management, especially in Virginia, where minimal responses to N applications have been reported. In this study, we applied 0, 90, 180, or 270 kg N ha-1 once to well-established stands of switchgrass and then examined yields and N pools over 3 yr in Blacksburg and Orange, VA. Over the first 2 yr of the study, N fertilization had no effect on biomass yields. There was a yield advantage for the highest rate of N in the third year. The amounts of N removed in harvested biomass (especially when harvested twice per season) were frequently greater than the amount of N applied. The initial lack of an N response could be due to adequate “native” N, microbiological interactions, and/or the ability of the plants to create internal N reserves. Roots showed an increase in their N concentration following N fertilization, and root N concentrations changed over the course of the growing season in a manner that suggested the roots can serve as an N sink to support spring growth and regrowth following cutting. But the data also suggested that the roots’ N pool can be depleted if N is not reapplied periodically. Switchgrass can be highly productive under our conditions with minimal N inputs. We speculate that this is possible because of the plants’ ability to capture mineralized N and to develop mobile N reserves that can be shifted belowground prior to harvest. If switchgrass biomass is to be harvested twice per season, N should be supplied at a rate sufficient to replace that amount removed in the summer harvest.

David Parrish, 231-9778, Dept: Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Mail code: 0404, Affiliation: faculty

Rocky Lemus, Dept: Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Mail code: 0404, Affiliation: graduate student

John Fike, 231-8654, Dept: Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Mail code: 0404, Affiliation: faculty

Ozzie Abaye, 231-9737, Dept: Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Mail code: 0404, Affiliation: faculty

23: Characterization of the promoter regions for the structural genes of solventogenesis in Clostridium beijerinckii

Clostridium beijerinckii is an anaerobic organism which is capable of both nitrogen fixation and solvent production. During fermentation, C. beijerinckii produces the industrially useful chemicals acetone, butanol and, in some strains, isopropanol. The regulation of solventogenic fermentation (solvent production) is linked to the onset of spore formation, meaning that the production of these solvents is limited to a short window in the growth cycle of the organism. This limits the economic viability of biomass-based solvent production, since it is currently impossible to create these solvents in large enough quantities to make it a practical alternative. The present method for producing these solvents on an industrial scale uses fossil fuels as a starting point. If the costs of producing solvents by biomass-based systems could be decreased enough to make it economically competitive against the industrial synthetic processes, it could provide a much needed cut back in petroleum usage worldwide. This research is focused on the question of how solvent production is regulated on a genetic level in C. beijerinckii, with the long-term goal of understanding how to uncouple solvent production from spore formation, allowing solvent producing cells to produce these solvents at a greater concentration.

Craig Tollin, 231-3525, Dept: Biochemistry, Mail code: 0308, Affiliation: graduate student

Jiann Shin Chen, 231-7129, Biochemistry (0308), Affiliation: faculty

24: Hulless Barley – A New Feedstock for Fuel Ethanol?

Producers on the U.S. East Coast critically need new markets for grains that increase farm income. The ethanol market offers this opportunity to grain growers in corn surplus areas, but in the corn deficit Mid-Atlantic, barley is a more viable ethanol feedstock. Because hulless barley has high digestible energy due to elevated starch and reduced fiber content, it would appear to be more ideally suited than hulled barley for ethanol production. Hulless barley varieties also show increased protein levels over those normally found in traditional barley. Preliminary studies conducted at the USDA-ARS Eastern Regional Research Center have demonstrated that ‘Doyce’ hulless barley provided 17% higher yields of ethanol than traditional hulled barley and the DDGS produced from Doyce contained 29.9% protein compared to 22.6% for hulled barley. Impediments to an economically viable hulless barley to ethanol process still exist. One issue is the effect environment has on end-use characteristics. In this study, the impact of growing environment and cultivar on hulless barley fiber, starch, protein, and beta glucan content was evaluated at locations in Virginia, South Carolina, Kentucky, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Grain protein for Doyce ranged from 11.84 to 7.30 percent across sites and was inversely related to starch level. Beta-glucan content was more constant and ranged from 4.05 to 4.98 percent across sites. In Virginia, 51 hulless barley lines were screened across multiple years and locations. Hulless barley varieties having a combination of the desirable chemical and nutritional components of traditional hulled barley and maize, which include lower concentrations of fiber, b-glucan and phytic acid, and higher starch and protein content and metabolizable energy over environment, were identified.

Wade Thomason, 231-2988, Dept: Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences00, Mail code: 0403, Affiliation: faculty

Carl Griffey, 231-9789, Dept: Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences00, Mail code: 0404, Affiliation: faculty

Wynse Brooks, 231-7624, Dept: Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences00, Mail code: 0404, Affiliation: faculty

26: Comparative functional genomics of wood quality

Wood has a multitude of end uses and is the most important renewable raw material. It is the composition of cell types in xylem--the wood-producing tissue in plants--that determines the physical properties of woods and hence their suitability for specific commercial applications. For example, although both vessel members and fibers are thick-walled xylem cells, fibers with their smaller diameter and relatively imperforate walls increase wood strength, while the large, highly perforated vessel members have a negative impact on wood strength. High secondary cell wall content generally translates into high specific gravity values that are important positive indicators of efficiencies of different woods as biofuel feedstocks. Additionally, the abundance, uniformity of size and cell wall chemistry (e.g., degree of lignification) of fibers determines pulping qualities for paper production. Although in some species xylem ray and axial parenchyma cells have a negative impact on wood specific gravity, and hence wood strength, parenchyma cells are not without commercial value. One important commercial application that depends on xylem parenchyma is the production of maple syrup from sugars mobilized in late winter and early spring. Moreover, engineered increases in production of phenolics and other defensive compounds by xylem parenchyma could be exploited for the production of naturally decay-resistant wood products and for improving the carbon sequestration potential of wood. Through a combination of genomic profiling and informatics we recently identified several putative cell identity regulator genes that have the potential to control the differentiation of cells during wood formation. We have created transgenic Arabidopsis and poplar plants with increased or decreased expression of these genes. With this approach we have shown that it is possible to alter the quality and quantity of wood by changing the expression of a single gene. By characterizing these novel regulatory genes we expect to significantly expand options for molecular breeding and genetic engineering strategies aimed at changing the physical and biological properties of wood.

Eric Beers, 231-3210, Dept: Horticulture, Mail code: 0327, Affiliation: faculty

Amy Brunner, 231-3165, Dept: Forestry, Mail code: 0324, Affiliation: faculty

Chengsong Zhao, 231-3288, Dept: Horticulture, Mail code: 0327, Affiliation: postdoc

Emily Hurst, 231-3288, Dept: Horticulture, Mail code: 0327, Affiliation: graduate student

28: Biodiesel - Fuel from Oilseed Crops

According to Daimler-Chrysler, diesel engines provide a 30% reduction in fuel consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% compared to gasoline engines. These benefits are further increased when biodiesel fuels are used, reducing our dependence on fossil fuels for transportation needs. Biodiesel reduces emissions of particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide. When biodiesel is made from vegetable oils, the biofuel component is carbon neutral resulting is less or the same amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the air as was stored in the plants. Because of oxygenation during the transesterification process to convert vegetable oils into biodiesel, the latter has higher cetane numbers than petrodiesel, an indication of diesel quality (similar to octane). Biodiesel typically has good lubricity, an important factor with today’s low sulfur diesel requirements. There are about 65 production plants currently in the U.S. with a capacity to produce 395 million gallons of biodiesel per year. Any crop that produces oil is a candidate for use as biodiesel feedstock. In Virginia soybean is the leading candidate for use as biodiesel feedstocks with >500,000 acres of production. Research has shown that canola is another crop with good potential since it can be grown here and produces more oil on a per acre basis. Compared to soybean, canola has a lower content of saturated fatty acids resulting in a lower cloud point and better cold weather performance, and a lower iodine value resulting in greater biodiesel stability.

Fred Shokes, 757-657-6450, Affiliation: faculty, Tidewater AREC

Harbans Bhardwaj, 804-524-6723, Affiliation: faculty, Virginia State University

Dave Starner, 540-672-2660, Affiliation: faculty, Northern Piedmont AREC

Michael Roberts, 804-733-2686, Affiliation: Extension Farm Management, Prince George County

29: Canola - An Alternative Oilseed Crop for Virginia With Good Biofuel Potential

Canola (Brassica napus L.) is a member of the Brassicaceae or mustard family and is similar to oilseed Rape. Rape was modified in Canada to make it edible by eliminating erucic acid and glucosinolates. The result was Canada oil, low acid rape, commonly known as canola. Seed of canola typically has 40-42% oil content but higher amounts are possible through breeding. Two varieties that are adapted to Virginia soils and climate, VSX-1 and VSX-2, have been developed at Virginia State University. Winter type canola varieties could replace wheat in a soybean-wheat-corn rotation. Summer types that are adapted to Virginia are under development and could some day replace soybean in the rotation. Soybean averages around 32 bu/A (1600 lb/A) and could produce about 320 lbs of oil per acre; whereas canola averages about 40 bu/A (2000 lb/A) in Virginia, and could yield up to 800 lb of oil per acre. With a lower content of saturated fatty acids and lower cloud point, biodiesel from canola feedstocks has better cold weather performance than soydiesel. With a lower iodine value canola biodiesel also has greater stability than soydiesel. Byproducts of vegetable oil biodiesel include meal and glycerin. Based on amino acid content canola meal has about 10% lower digestibility than soybean meal but is usable in swine and poultry feeds. If processed into a food grade, the glycerin component can be a valuable byproduct and constitutes about 1/10 of the bioprocessing output.

Fred Shokes, 757-657-6450, Affiliation: faculty, Tidewater AREC

Harbans Bhardwaj, 804-524-6723, Affiliation: faculty, Virginia State University

Dave Starner, 540-672-2660, Affiliation: faculty, Northern Piedmont AREC

Michael Roberts, 804-733-2686, Affiliation: Extension Farm Management, Prince George County

36: Model Bio-based Energy and Products Development System

Development of agriculture- and forestry-based products has a great potential to bolster and diversify Southside and Southwest Virginia economies by opening competitive opportunities for the establishment of new industries in this region. We have assembled a multidisciplinary team of researchers and entrepreneurs to create a small-scale energy production system based on sustainable cultivation and conversion of locally produced biomass. The major objective of this project is to develop local production capability using biomass to generate energy and novel value-added products. In the Phase I of the project (partly funded by the Virginia Tobacco Commission) we will establish a Bio-Based Energy and Products Research Center with companion operations at Virginia Tech and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) in Danville, and demonstrations at Windy Acres Nursery and Greenhouse operation in Gretna, VA. The Center will serve as a research and technology development/implementation base for the utilization of short-rotation woody plant species (i.e., hybrid poplar, willow) and herbaceous perennials (i.e., miscanthus, switchgrass) as feedstocks for bio-energy products (bio-oil, bio-gas, and novel wood and grass pellets fortified with recyclable materials to enhance their energy outputs). A sustainable feedstock production system utilizing local resources, including wood ash and animal manures available in the vicinity of the Center will be developed and used for research and education purposes. Economic evaluation of the entire working model - feedstock production, harvesting, storage, pre-processing, and the processing - will be conducted. Market research on the distribution and sale of the companion co-products will proceed with the demonstration activities. A biomass feedstock breeding program for high BTU value and novel applications will be established and integrated into the existing molecular biology and bioinformatics research at Virginia Tech and IALR. Phase II will focus on setting up spin-off enterprises.

Jerzy Nowak, 540-2315451, Dept: Horticulture, Mail code: 0327, Affiliation: faculty

44: Falling Film Fuel Cell

Most of the world’s fossil fuel is in the form of solid coal. Biomass is also in solid form. Solid fuels are important for large-scale stationary power generation. Leading fuel cell technologies use stationary electrolytes and advanced micro-porous materials. These cells are not suitable for power generation directly from solid fuels because they become fouled with fuel impurities and because the cost of the materials is prohibitive. The falling film cell uses a flowing molten carbonate electrolyte which entrains solid fuel, delivers it to the reaction zone, and carries off impurities. It uses a laminar flow layer, rather than a porous membrane, to separate fuel and oxygen. The cathode reaction is 2CO2 + 3CO2 + 4e¬–. ® 2CO3=, while the anode reaction is C + 2CO3= ®O2 + 4e¬– CO2. ®The net reaction is thus C + O2 The cell consists of two macro-porous beds, one for the anode and one for the cathode, separated by a small gap. These beds are large in height but small in thickness. Electrolyte is fed into each bed from the top. Electrolyte flow rate is such that the frictional resistance of the flow through the bed is balanced by the gravitational force on the electrolyte and the bed remains fully wetted. Oxygen and carbon dioxide are supplied to the outer surface of the cathode bed. They diffuse into the cathode and react with electrons on the cathode surface to form carbonate ions. The electrolyte flowing into the anode contains carbon particles. Carbonate ions are conducted through the electrolyte to the surface of the particles, where they combine with carbon to form electrons and carbon dioxide. The electrons are transferred to the current-collecting anode bed through collisions, while the carbon dioxide diffuses to the anode outer surface where it vaporizes. Falling film cells can be efficiently grouped into cell arrays, and multiple arrays can be combined to form large power plants.

Alan Kornhauser, 231-7064, Dept: Mechanical Engineering, Mail code: 0238, Affiliation: faculty

Ritesh Agarwal, 231-6801, Dept: Mechanical Engineering, Mail code: 0238, Affiliation: graduate student

46: Design Process, Fuel Selection, and Vehicle Characteristics of the Virginia Tech E85 Hybrid Electric Vehicle

This poster documents the vehicle design process, fuel selection, and vehicle characteristics of the Hybrid Electric Vehicle Team (HEVT) of Virginia Tech’s E85 (85% ethanol) fueled hybrid electric vehicle. The poster displays the different fuel options available to HEVT for the Challenge X competition and outlines the team’s selection of E85 as the best fuel source. Lower petroleum use is highlighted as one of the deciding factors for the selection of E85. The vehicle is also hybridized to further reduce fuel consumption. E85 production methods are discussed, as well as what E85 means to the consumer.

Doug Nelson, 231-4324, Dept: Mechanical Engineering, Mail code: 0238, Affiliation: faculty

Kurt Johnson, 231-7457, Dept: Mechanical Engineering, Mail code: 0238, Affiliation: graduate student

Steve Boyd, 231-7457, Dept: Mechanical Engineering, Mail code: 0238, Affiliation: graduate student

48: A Novel Pretreatment Process for Fractionating Recalcitrant Lignocellulose with Solvents

The greatest barrier to adopting lignocellulose biomass for conversion to ethanol fuel is efficiently releasing the polysaccharide sugars from the natural recalcitrant lignocellulose. The recalcitrance of lignocellulose was hypothesized to be attributed to crystalline cellulose, which restricts cellulase activities and the presence of lignin and hemicellulose on the cellulose surface, which prevent cellulase from accessing substrate. In order to overcome the root causes of recalcitrance of lignocellulose, we developed a new novel method for breaking lignocellulose biomass under modest reaction conditions (50°C and atmospheric pressure) that converts crystalline cellulose to an amorphous form with minimal presence of lignin and hemicellulose. This lignocellulose pretreatment process sequentially utilizes nonvolatile concentrated phosphoric acids as a cellulose solvent, a highly volatile organic solvent (acetone), and water to fractionate lignocellulose to acetic acid, amorphous cellulose, lignin, and hemicellulose. The hydrolysis of amorphous cellulose has nearly theoretical sugar yields after enzymatic hydrolysis (~97% after 24 hours at 15 FPU/g glucan). In addition, isolation of high quality lignin and hemicellulose can be used for renewable materials, resulting in an increase in revenues from the overall process.

Geoffrey Moxley, 231-0747, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: graduate student

Ian Doran, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: undergrad

Percival Zhang, 231-7414, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: faculty

49: A Revolutionary Technology: High-Yield Hydrogen Production from Sugars by Artificial Enzymatic Pathway Engineering

The hydrogen economy offers a compelling future energy vision because hydrogen is abundant, clean, flexible, and secure. Here we have designed a novel artificial enzymatic pathway engineering (AEPE) that can convert abundant polysaccharides (starch and cellulose) plus water to net hydrogen and carbon dioxide with a stoichiometric reaction (C6H10O5 + 7 H2O --> 12 H2 + 6 CO2). These reactions integrate reversible substrate phosphorylation by glucan phosphorylases, pentose phosphate pathway, and hydrogen production by hydrogenase. Based on enzymatic reactions and thermodynamic analysis, the overall process is spontaneous and unidirectional because of a negative Gibbs free energy and the removal of gaseous products of reaction from the aqueous reaction phase. It requires neither energy input nor consumption of coenzymes or other chemicals, once a stable multi-enzyme biocatalyst has been developed. Mild reaction conditions, high hydrogen yields, projected low production costs, and high energy density of polysaccharides (14.8 H2-based mass%) make this designed pathway reaction for hydrogen production even more appealing. With technology improvements, this technology will highly likely become the basic technology for the incoming hydrogen economy, especially for mobile applications. Based on this technology, we propose a new conceptual SUGAR CAR, in which the sugar is converted to hydrogen on board, electricity is produced via hydrogen-fuel-cells, and motor is driven by electricity. This power train system would have as high as 60% energy conversion efficiency.

Percival Zhang, 231-7414, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: faculty

52: Advanced Technology Vehicle Fleet Impact Assessment Study

The latest conventional passenger vehicles using petroleum-based fuels have very low tailpipe and evaporative emissions relative to previous generation vehicles. On the other hand, fuel economy has hardly increased over the same period and fleet-average fuel economy has actually decreased since more vehicles are classified as light duty trucks (LDTs; sport utility vehicles and minivans) and are used for daily transportation. Growing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per year increases our dependence on imported oil (rising toward 60%) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from combustion of hydrocarbon fossil fuels. Also, most of the vehicle environmental impact (over 90%) comes from fuel or energy use. Advanced technology vehicles (ATVs), such as hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), flexible-fuel vehicles (FFV) using E85 or gasoline in any combination, and fuel cell vehicles (FCV) using compressed hydrogen gas (CHG), have several advantages compared to conventional vehicles; better fuel economy, less GHG emissions, and lower tailpipe emissions. Therefore, the objective of this study is to asses the overall environmental impact from a sales fleet vehicle application for these ATVs and alternative fuels compared to conventional vehicles and petroleum-based fuels. For this study, vehicle use patterns are surveyed from four selected regions; Atlanta, GA, San Diego, CA, Chicago, IL, and the mountain west, as a reference. Also, this study identifies those vehicles (including conventional gasoline vehicles) and their characteristics that have most significant impact on the analysis and conclusions. After this study, additional field testing for selected vehicles will be performed to collect and analyze data on fuel/energy use.

Doug Nelson, 231-4324, Dept: Mechanical Engineering, Mail code: 0238, Affiliation: faculty

Jeongwoo Lee, 231-6801, Dept: Mechanical Engineering, Mail code: 0238, Affiliation: graduate student

56: Engineering Cellulase for Cellulosic Ethanol Production

With the depletion of the world’s petroleum supplies and the resulting accumulation of the greenhouse gas CO2, mainly from fossil fuel burning, zero carbon emission alternative energy production is vital to the sustainable development of human beings. Production of liquid transportation fuel ethanol from lignocellulose biomass, the most abundant and renewable bioresource, is important for achieving the goal of the 30/30 project (producing 60 billion gallons of ethanol to replace 30% gasoline consumption in 2030). The commercialization of cellulosic ethanol production has high risks because of immature lignocellulose pretreatment technologies and high costs of cellulase. In our lab, we are developing the better bacterial cellulase pipeline with great thermostability and higher catalysis efficiency using biomolecular engineering, especially directed enzyme evolution. In order to avoid labor-intensive screening for library mutants, we have designed combinatorial selection and screen technologies for each cellulase component. In addition, we are investigating the relationship between cellulose characteristics and cellulase activities. The above research results will help us to understand the complicated enzymatic hydrolysis process, develop better cellulase system and lignocellulose fractionation technology, and finally to solve one of the largest challenges for lignocellulose biorefineries – effectively overcoming the recalcitrant lignocellulose and releasing locked sugars for the following fermentation.

Percival Zhang, 540-231-7414, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: faculty

Jiong Hong, 540-231-0747, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: postdoc

Tao Ning, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: graduate student

62: Optimizing biomethane production potential from agricultural residues

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is not a new technology, but provides options for managing organic waste such as animal manure, food processing wastes, and crop residues to produce valuable products such as biogas, organic acids, alcohols, and stable fertilizer. Our research focuses on methods to increase the quantity of biogas produced using anaerobic digestion from agricultural residues by looking at different methods of pretreating feedstock to enhance their biodegradability and different reactor configurations for biogasification. Phased anaerobic digestion technology processes manure and other organic materials with solids content greater than 10%. This technology has benefits similar to conventional anaerobic technology, but with the added advantage of improved biogas production efficiency and reduced digester size. Also, some organic materials, especially the lignocellulosic materials in the manure that are normally difficult to digest in conventional digesters, can be digested by this technology. This technology has been described as anaerobic phased solids digester, high solids anaerobic digestion, or leach bed anaerobic digestion. The two-phase system allows smaller digester sizes and can handle material with solids content > 10%. Our research focuses on enhancing biogas production from animal manure by: 1. Isolating rumen microorganisms and optimizing their growth conditions to “accelerate” the degradation of manure fiber and then integrating the rumen organisms into phased anaerobic digesters for enhanced biogas production 2. Investigating acid fermentation using thermophilic cellulolytic bacteria for the first stage of phased anaerobic digestion for enhanced biogas production

Jactone Arogo Ogejo, 231 6815, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: faculty

Julia Fan, 231 7425, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: faculty

Zhiyou Wen, 231 9356, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: faculty

63: Genomics approaches to tree domestication for enhanced biomass

Development of perennial plants and trees with desirable physiochemical traits and higher biomass yields is crucial to providing the increasing amounts of bioresources necessary to displace a large fraction of non-renewable energy resources. For use as dedicated biomass feedstocks, the main woody plant candidate is poplar (Populus species). Poplars are also a model tree system for molecular biology research and its genome has been completely sequenced by the U.S Department of Energy’s Joint Genome Institute. The characteristics of poplars and its genomic resources make it a powerful system for developing genetic improvement strategies that are tailored to biofuel and biobased material needs. Our lab uses functional genomics to study traits important for bioenergy goals, including crown architecture, flowering, dormancy, and wood formation. For example, optimization of branch form and leaf distribution and prevention of flowering can increase biomass yield, while manipulating wood formation could alter biomass structure and composition for improved conversion to bioenergy.

Chieh-Ting Wang, 231-0744, Mail code: 0324, Affiliation: postdoc

Emily Hurst, Mail code: 0324, Affiliation: graduate student

Takeshi Fujino, Mail code: 0324, Affiliation: postdoc

Elizabeth Etherington, Dept: forestry, Mail code: 0324, Affiliation: faculty

Amy Brunner, Dept: forestry, Mail code: 0324, Affiliation: faculty

71: Bioenergy Engineering Education program in Virginia

As energy prices continue to rise and environmental concerns grows, there is a renewed interest in developing bio-based energy that can partially replace our reliance on imported fossil fuels. However, there are still some myths and concerns about the usage of bioenergy by the public. Therefore, there is an urgent need to educate consumers about bioenergy production and usage. Extension Specialists in Biological Systems Engineering Department are developing an extension education program for bioenergy production and usage. The goal of the program is to educate the citizens of Virginia on the different energy sources, and how bioenergy fits the renewable energy spectrum. The bioenergy education program covers bioethanol, biodiesel, biogas and bio-oil production and usage. For each type of bioenergy, the following questions or specific objectives will be addressed (1) fundamental concepts and terminologies used for each type of bioenergy, (2) user concerns in terms of engineering warranty, heat values, cold temperature concerns, etc. (3) how each type of bioenergy is derived/produced from biomass, and how the bioenergy can be produced in small scales, (4) the emerging technologies for bioenergy production, (5) availability of energy crops/biomass used for producing those bioenergy in Virginia, (6) how to identify, define and provide solutions for the problems associated with bioenergy usage and production, and (7) the logistical management/supply of feedstock for bioenergy production. BSE Extension Specialists will team-up extension agents and other specialist to deliver 3 to 4 works shops from November 2006 to May 2007 at different locations to cover all the regions of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Jactone Arogo Ogejo, 231-6815, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: faculty

Zhiyou Wen, 231 9356, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: faculty

93: Bioenergy Outreach by the Conservation Management Institute

Renewable energy use in state-owned facilities could have a great positive impact on the adoption of renewable energy sources. The Conservation Management Institute has been involved with multiple agencies and organizations in the development of switchgrass-based bioenergy projects to produce electricity and/or steam in Southside, VA. At present we are working with the Piedmont Geriatric Hospital, a state-owned facility near Crewe, VA, to evaluate the use of chopped switchgrass for producing steam to supply heat and hot water to the facility. Switchgrass or other warm-season grasses are a renewable energy source that traps carbon, provides quail habitat, reduces agricultural runoff into streams and rivers, and reduces emissions of key pollutants such as sulfur and mercury. Switchgrass production should also dramatically increase income to farmers from existing marginal hay lands in Virginia contributing to rural economic development.

Jeff Waldon, 540/231-4540, Dept: Conservation Management Institute, Mail code: 0534, Affiliation: faculty

105: Slagging Properties of Poultry Litter Ash During Combustion

The safe and environmentally benign method of disposing poultry litter is a major challenge to Virginia’s poultry industry. Land application and feeding to cattle are not suitable options because of environmental pollution and biosecurity concerns. A safe alternative is the combustion of the litter to generate power or heat. However, because poultry litter contains ‘soft’ metals and mineral material that will melt or vaporize at conventional furnace operating temperatures, these volatile materials can critically interfere with the operation of the furnace, and must be removed through an expensive and time consuming process. In this project we studied the volatilization characteristics of poultry litter to enable us develop suitable methods for combusting this fuel without the adverse negative effects. This characterization was performed using a novel, low-cost method developed at Virginia Tech. The data shows that slagging of some of the poultry ashes may begin at temperatures as low as 650 C. Thus, if these factors are not considered in the design of the furnace, the process may experience major operational problems.

Foster Agblevor, 231-2578, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: faculty

Brandon Dillon, Affiliation: graduate student

Seung-Soo Kim, Affiliation: postdoc

106: Bioconversion of Cotton Gin Waste to Ethanol

Cotton cultivation is of growing importance in southeastern Virginia. Over the past decade cotton cultivation has grown from 3000 acres per year to over 100,000 acres and six cotton gins have been established in the area to process the cotton. Processing cotton generates cotton gin waste that must be disposed to meet EPA standards. However, because all six cotton gins are very small, it is becoming difficult for them to meet EPA clean air standards. We have developed a process for converting the cotton gin waste to bioethanol while simultaneously disposing of the cotton gin waste. We have demonstrated that we can use steam explosion coupled with enzyme hydrolysis to convert cotton gin waste to ethanol. The process has been licensed to Xethanol LLC, New York, NY and it is currently being scaled-up for eventual commercialization. In this poster, we present results for the hydrolytic kinetics of steam exploded cotton gin waste at various initial concentrations of two enzymes: Novozyme NS50052 (Novozymes) and Spezyme AO3117 (Genencor International). The experiments show that after steam explosion about 90% of the biopolymers can be hydrolyzed to reducing sugars. However, there are vast differences in the activities of these two enzymes. The Novozymes enzymes which is an advanced form of cellulase enzyme developed for corn stover conversion to sugars was found to be more effective than the commercial Spezyme cellulase preparation. Our studies show that when cotton gin waste is combined with recycled paper sludge the ethanol yield can be as high as 90 gallons per ton.

Foster Agblevor, 231-2578, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: faculty

108: Biofuels: Solution for Nutrient Management in the Shenandoah Valley

Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley accounts for about 25% of the poultry produced in the state. Poultry production generates poultry litter which is composed of manure, bedding, feathers and feed which must be disposed. The safe and economical disposal of poultry litter is becoming a major problem for the USA poultry industry. Current disposal methods such as land application and feeding to cattle are now under pressure because of pollution of water resources due to leaching and runoffs and concern for BSE contamination of the food chain. Incineration or combustion is potentially applicable to large scale operations, but for small growers and EPA non-attainment areas, this is not a suitable option because of the high cost of operation. Thus there is a need for developing suitable technologies to dispose poultry litter. In this poster we present data on the thermochemical conversion of poultry litter to pyrolysis oil (pyrodiesel) and slow-release fertilizer. The technology densifies the energy of the poultry litter for space heating of poultry houses. The ultimate goal is to build transportable pyrolysis units for operation in the Shenandoah Valley to process the waste from growers within one locality and thus reducing transportation cost. This technology will not only solve the waste disposal and water pollution problems but it will convert a potential waste to a high-value product such as energy and fertilizer. The National Fish and Wildlife Federation is sponsoring our research to reduce nutrient in the Shenandoah Valley.

Foster Agblevor, 231-2578, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: faculty

Sueng-Soo Kim, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: postdoc

Moses Mwetwaa, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: graduate student

109: Meeting Energy Needs of Southside Virginia Through Thermochemistry Conversion of Biomass to Fuels

With the proposed gradual phase out of tobacco cultivation in Southside Virginia, farmers now face the major issue of developing alternative crops to replace tobacco. However, the recent rise in fossil fuel prices is making it extremely difficult for farmers to develop alternative products to replace tobacco. The Virginia Tobacco Commission is spearheading an effort to develop technologies to produce biofuels in Southside Virginia. Virginia Tech through collaboration with the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), Danville, Va. has proposed to develop a comprehensive bioenergy program in Southside Virginia to meet the pressing energy needs of the area. In this poster we present the proposed research activities for Southside Virginia, which includes the development of suitable biomass feedstocks, such as switchgrass, miscanthus, and hybrid poplar, and the development of thermochemical conversion technologies to produce bio-oils and sunfuel. During Phase I of the research, which begins in the Fall of 2006, a prototype 2 kg/h fluidized pyrolysis reactor will be built at Virginia Tech to produce bio-oils from switchgrass and hybrid poplar wood. Simultaneously, a small downdraft wood gasification unit which could be used for power and heat generation will be installed and demonstrated on a wood processing facility in South Boston. During Phase II of the project, the pyrolysis unit will be upgraded to produce sunfuel.

Foster Agblevor, 231-2578, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: faculty

Jerzy Nowak, 231-5451, Mail code: 0327, Affiliation: faculty

110: Growth potential and species structure of yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipfera) and red maple (Acer rubrum L.), native trees of Virginia

Yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.) commonly known as tulip poplar and red maple (Acer rubrum L.) are widely distributed in Virginia and south eastern United States. Due to their fast growth, the species has a great potential for providing renewable wood supplies which can be used as biofuel and bioenergy. However, the growth characteristics such as rate of growth, height of the trees varies with the geographic distribution from coastal areas to the mountains. There are isolated strands with distinct morphological features may be representing sub-species of this species. In our research we are using DNA fingerprinting techniques to understand the population structure of the two species. The DNA markers will be developed for superior fast growing clones and subspecies with desired wood quality. The results of our research will help produce fast growing yellow poplar and red maple which will be a sustainable and renewable source of biomass and can be converted to bioenergy.

Muhammad Iqbal, 434/ 766-6712, Dept: ISRR/IALR, Affiliation: faculty

Katie Kovach, Dept: Forestry, Affiliation: graduate student

Ulrika Egertsdotter, Dept: Forestry, Affiliation: faculty

Shepard Zedaker, Dept: Forestry, Affiliation: faculty

Audrey Zink-Sharp, Dept: Forestry, Affiliation: faculty

Renewable Energy: Wind, Solar, and Hydro Energy

11: The use of potential renewable energy resources for developing water supplies to meet global water demand

Safe and adequate water supplies are needed to protect public health and to sustain economic productivity. The Engineer of 2020, a National Academy of Engineering publication quotes: “The question of water is at the heart of a 600-page world water development report issued by the United Nations in 2003. It’s projected that within the next 20 years virtually every nation in the world will face some type of water supply problem.” To meet future global water demand, in addition to developing conventional surface and groundwater sources that are fast diminishing, it has become necessary to develop alternative water sources such as urban storm water runoff, municipal wastewater treatment plant discharges, saline and other impure waters for human consumption and economic activities. Currently, advanced and highly effective water purification systems using technologies such as membranes and thermal (distillation) processes are being developed for this purpose. However, these advanced water purification technologies are energy intensive and feasibility of implementing these technologies are directly affected by energy consumption. Therefore, there is a significant need to integrate renewable energy resources into water production systems. Potential renewable energy resources include solar energy (e.g. photovoltaic and solar energy concentrators/collectors), wind energy, geothermal energy, and ocean energy (tidal power, wave energy, ocean thermal energy). This poster presentation provides an overview of the potential use of renewable energy resources for developing sustainable water supplies that implement advanced water purification technologies. The presentation will address the potential and limitations of these alternative energy resources for production of sustainable water supplies and the need for developing interdisciplinary research, institutional framework, and policy making to meet future global water demand.

Tamim Younos, 231-8039, Dept: Virginia Water Resources Research Center, Mail code: 0444, Affiliation: faculty

19: Enhanced Efficiency in Organic Solar Cells through Nanoscale Concentration Gradient Profiles

Organic solar cells, with current power conversion efficiencies up to 5%, are heavily investigated as potential low-cost, lightweight, large area. high efficiency renemable energy sources. We have a developed a novel method for controlling the composition of organic solar cells at the nanometer length scale in order to further increase the conversion efficiency. Organic photovoltaic devices rely on photo-excited charge transfer from an electron donor such as a conducting polymer, to a high electron affinity acceptor such as C60 or its derivatives. A close proximity of the donor and acceptor components is required to ensure an efficient electron transfer process. In addition to this, a continuously connected path of each component is required from the site of charge transfer to the electrode for efficient charge collection and optimum device performance. Device efficiencies are increased by utilizing improved materials as donors and acceptors as well as controlling the nanoscale morphology of the thin film devices. Our study concentrates on thermally interdiffusing a bilayer of the donor and acceptor materials to create a concentration gradient, in order to optimize both the charge transfer and charge transport processes. Such concentration gradients in poly (3-octylthiophene) (P3OT) – C60 photovoltaic devices have been achieved by thermally interdiffusing a bilayer of the two materials at temperatures above the glass transition temperature and below the melting point of the polymer; at such temperatures the polymer softens allowing the fullerene to diffuse in. An in-depth study on devices interdiffused at 130 0C for 5 minutes and air cooled in an inert atmosphere is presented. Experimental study of component layer thickness variations yields optimum performance for devices with P3OT and C60 initial layer thicknesses each in the range 40 to 60 nm. Auger spectroscopy is used to record the concentration gradient in the film and theoretical models have been developed to confirm the effects of material properties and processing parameters on the device efficiency.

James Heflin, 231-4504, Mail code: 0453, Affiliation: faculty

Anamika Gopal, 231-9849, Mail code: 0453, Affiliation: graduate student

Rick Davis, 231-4578, Mail code: 0211, Affiliation: faculty

72: Fatigue durability prediction of composites for wind turbine applications under variable amplitude loading

Wind turbines are one of the fastest growing renewable energy sources. The blades for these turbines are primarily built using glass and carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites. As the blades rotate, they are subjected to cyclic bending moments due to their own weight in addition to the aerodynamic forces from the wind driving them. Over the typical 20-year design lifetime, the blades will see many millions of cycles and this can lead to premature failures at stresses that are much smaller than the original strength. Predicting the high cycle fatigue degradation of composites under variable amplitude loading is a complex problem because the material behavior has been shown to depend not only on the loads applied but also on the order of their application. Improved prediction of fatigue durability of composite wind turbine blades will enable improved blade designs that are more efficient lower cost while maintaining acceptable reliability. This poster reviews the current literature that examines this topic and highlights ongoing composite fatigue characterization and modeling at Virginia Tech. We propose methodology through which a new phenomenological model may be developed. This model will incorporate improved understanding of the fatigue degradation mechanisms in these materials based on traditional composite analysis theories and destructive and non-destructive evaluation of specific material systems.

Nathan Post, 231-3139, Dept: Engineering Science and Mechanics, Mail code: 0219, Affiliation: graduate student

John Lesko, 231-5259, Dept: Engineering Science and Mechanics, Mail code: 0219, Affiliation: faculty

Scott Case, 231-3140, Dept: Engineering Science and Mechanics, Mail code: 0219, Affiliation: faculty

79: Branched Polysulfone Ionomers as Potential Membranes for Ionic Polymer Transducers as Low Energy Devices

Electromechanical transduction is the phenomenon which couples an electrical potential applied across a conducting material with a resulting mechanical response. Ionic polymer transducers (IPT), flexible devices based on this coupling of physical domains, are composed of ion-conducting polymer membranes saturated with an ion-conducting diluent, an interpenetrating electrode layer, and an electrically conductive surface layer. IPTs attract attention in the area of alternative energy sources due to their ability to produce electrical current (i.e. μAmps) under repeated mechanical deformation. The magnitude of the current that IPTs generate lends itself to employment in long-term power harvesting and for powering low-energy devices. The variable size, very low weight, and flexibility of IPTs could allow for configurations incorporating them into vehicle tires, clothing, biomedical devices, and even wind power harvesting. Additional benefits of IPTs in such applications are the ability to provide sensing data through the generated current and/or to act as low-force actuators under an applied electrical potential. The majority of existing IPT technology and applications are based on the ion-conducting membrane NafionTM. The goal of my research is to synthetically develop a branched ionomer that is more compatible with existing ionic liquid[1] and electrode[2] technology, displays higher saturated modulus, shows longer lifetime under actuation, and attains higher ionic conductivity (i.e. resulting in greater energy density) than is presently achieved using NafionTM. The ionomer under investigation is synthesized from an oligomeric sulfonated polysulfone[3] (A2) and tris(4-fluorophenyl) phosphine oxide (B3). Incorporation of oligomeric A2 units in A2 + B3 reactions of other systems[4,5] demonstrated a method to increase mechanical properties while also providing a highly-branched system with a high concentration of end-groups subject to further functionalization. Selection of the proper end-group chemistry may aid in tuning the surface and bulk properties for better compatibility with other IPT components. Overall this system presents an opportunity to observe how the introduction of controlled degrees of branching into an engineering grade ionomer affects the morphology, physical properties, and ability to perform as a transducer membrane in various low-energy and/or power harvesting applications. [1] Bennett, M.D., Leo, D.J. “Ionic liquids as stable solvents for ionic polymer transducers.” Sensors and Actuators A 2004, 115, 79-90. [2] Akle, B.J., Bennett, M.D., Leo, D.J. “High-strain ionomeric – ionic liquid composites via electrode tailoring.” J. ASME. 2004, 1-9. 3 Harrison, W., Hickner, M.A., Kim, Y.S., McGrath, J.E. “Poly(Arylene Ether Sulfone) Copolymers and Related Systems from Disulfonated Monomer Building Blocks: Synthesis, Characterization, and Performance – A Topical Review.” Fuel Cells 2005, 5, 201-212. 4 Lin, Q., Unal, S., Fornof, A.R., Yilgor, I., Long, T.E. “Highly Branched Poly(arylene ether)s via Oligomeric A2 + B3 Strategies.” Macr. Chem. Phys. 2006, 207, 576-586. 5 Unal, S., Yilgor, I., Yilgor, E., Sheth, J.P., Wilkes, G.L., Long, T.E. “A New Generation of Highly Branched Polymers: Hyperbranched, Segmented Poly(urethane urea) Elastomers.” Macromolecules 2004, 37, 7081-7084.

Andrew Duncan, 231-3826, Mail code: 0212, Affiliation: graduate student

Barbar Akle, Affiliation: faculty

Matthew Bennett, Affiliation: postdoc

Qin Lin, Affiliation: postdoc

Rachael Hopp, Affiliation: graduate student

Donald Leo, Affiliation: faculty

Timothy Long, Affiliation: faculty

James McGrath, Affiliation: faculty

87: Bioenergy and Carbon Sequestration from Charcoal Production Using Wood Waste: Developing a Locally Made Charcoal Enterprise in Virginia, A Pilot Study

Rising energy demand and technological advances have made charcoal production from wood waste feasible at commercially operable scales. Residues from forest harvesting and untreated mill wastes provide suitable materials for producing heat and power, with charcoal or “charwood” as a valuable by-product. Wood carbonization is achieved under pressurized conditions with heat for drying and pre-heating charwood feedstock supplied by a separate gasification-combustion unit. Surplus heat is derived from the exothermic carbonization reactions, and power is generated through a pressure-driven gas turbine. Separate process controls on the combustion and carbonization chambers regulate drying and reaction rates to ensure volatilization of organics. The system’s low emissions and nearly carbon-neutral energy output could stimulate markets for small diameter wood removed in sustainable forest management operations, and offset carbon emissions from non-renewable fuels.
    Virginia and throughout the region has seen a growing supply of wood waste from forest harvesting operations, over crowded land fill sites, and natural disasters. To add value to this stream of wood waste a team from the College of Natural Resources is developing systems to produce and market natural lump charcoal. Program objectives include: develop and test a prototype small-scale natural hardwood charcoal manufacturing process that uses a portable kiln and small diameter logs or slab wood as raw material; demonstrate how to make a portable kiln and produce natural hardwood charcoal to forest managers, landowners, entrepreneurs and other interested parties; determine the feasibility of the small scale natural hardwood charcoal production; and evaluate local markets and effective marketing methods for natural hardwood charcoal. The poster will summarize progress thus far to develop and test a portable kiln and to explore ways to add market value to natural lump charcoal. Recent demonstrations for landowners and natural resource specialists have shown that the system has appeal in the region, and further improvement and testing of the system will continue.

Tom Hammett, 231-2716, Dept: Wood Science and Forest Products, Mail code: 0323, Affiliation: faculty

Phil Radtke, 231-8863, Mail code: 0324, Affiliation: faculty

101: Impacts of Terrestrial and Coastal Wind Turbine Generators on Migratory and Resident Birds in the Eastern United States.

Our research group is currently developing proposals to work with the Mineral Mining Service (MMS) and the Commonwealth of Virginia on a suite of proposed wind turbine generator (WTG) projects in terrestrial and coastal ecosystems in Virginia, Massachusetts, and New York. We bring together expertise in population biology, behavioral ecology, and habitat selection ecology to study the potential impacts of WTG projects on threatened and endangered avifauna, including diverse species such as breeding Cerulean Warblers and migratory raptors in western Virginia and Piping Plovers, Red Knots, and other shorebirds on the Atlantic coast. This poster presents an overview of our knowledge of impacts of WTGs on avian species and highlights project-specific and regional research needs on the topics of best placement and operational tactics of WTG projects.

Sarah Karpanty, 540-231-4586, Dept: Fisheries and Wildlife Science, Mail code: 0321, Affiliation: faculty

104: The Virginia Tech Solar Decathlon Project: A Consumer Diffusion Model of Best-Practices in Energy Efficient Housing

This work describes Virginia Tech’s involvement in the DOE Solar Decathlon competition in 2002 and 2005. It highlights the lessons learned from designing two completely off-grid homes and those lessons that are transferable to contemporary consumer housing. This research focuses on a highly-integrated set of technologies involved in the collection, storage, management, and efficient use of solar-derived energy that will support a no-compromise lifestyle. Advanced material selection and its use are discussed based on performance and the ability of the material to respond to being renewable, recyclable, or having low embodied energy content. A kinetically responsive wall system is also described that allows the building enclosure to alter its physical state based on energy flows. While the focus of the competition was on an off-grid solution, the research emphasizes the grid-intertie and distributed power nature of the project as a way to maximize the economic benefit and the life-cycle energy collection of the PV system.

Bob Schubert, 231-5607, Dept: Architecture, Mail code: 0205, Affiliation: faculty

Robert Dunay, 231-9935, Dept: Architecture, Mail code: 0205, Affiliation: faculty

Joe Wheeler, 231-7236, Dept: Architecture, Mail code: 0205, Affiliation: faculty

Mike Ellis, 231-9102, Dept: Mechanical Engineering, Mail code: 0238, Affiliation: faculty

David Clark, 540-841-3241, Dept: Architecture, Mail code: 0205, Affiliation: graduate student

116. Wind Turbine Aerodynamics

Wind turbines will be playing a significantly increasing role in the generation of electrical power in many parts of the world. Yet their performance and reliability are inherently affected by the aerodynamics loads on their blades. The unsteady character of these loads makes the prediction of the dynamic stresses and the aeroelastic response of the blades very difficult. This challenge is significantly magnified when considering the imprecise aspects of the environmental operating conditions of wind turbines. These aspects include directional and spatial variations in the atmospheric wind, atmospheric turbulence which is highly nonstationary, thermal stratification and the interaction of upstream unsteady flow dynamics such as shedding vortices from upstream support structures with rotor blades. Improving the abilities to predict aerodynamic loads on wind turbine blades under variant upstream turbulence conditions, which is the subject of this effort, will certainly lead to better prediction of the performance and reliability of wind turbines which, in turn, will lead to lower capital investment and operating/maintenance costs; making wind turbines a feasible device that can compete with other forms of renewable and non-renewable energy sources. This poster reviews efforts performed by Virginia Tech researchers to simulate wind loads on structures taking into consideration the effects of atmospheric turbulence. Different simulations on surface-mounted structures and blades are presented. Two methods for uncertainty quantification of aerodynamic loads resulting from variations in the atmospheric turbulence that have been developed in cooperation with researchers from the Air Force Research Laboratory (Wright Patterson) and faculty from the US Naval Academy are also detailed and presented.

Muhammad Hajj, 231-4190, Engineering Science and Mechanics

Saad Ragab, 231-5950