Good News On 100LL Alternatives!!

[Ted RV8]

Didn't know exactley were to post this but progress on the 100LL alternitive fuel from Swift. From AVweb

March 3, 2009

FAA Evaluates 100LL Alternative Email this article |Print this article

By Paul Bertorelli, Editorial Director






Recall last summer that we reported on a new proposed replacement for 100LL that would be both cheaper than avgas and have higher octane. While we don't yet know about the cheaper part, the FAA's initial testing has revealed that Swift Fuel has a slightly higher octane than 100LL and has excellent resistance to detonation, something other fuels haven't been able to achieve without lead as an octane booster. The new fuel contains about 13 percent more heat value than avgas, but it's also about a pound heavier per gallon. It meets most of the requirements of the ASTM D 910 standard for avgas.



The FAA's Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City, N.J., completed technical testing on Swift Fuel in mid-January, reporting an octane value of 104.4. Worth noting is that the tech center's testing doesn't constitute industry or FAA approval of the fuel, but is rather a first run at examining the concept.



Swift proposes to make its fuel from cellulosic biomass—switch grass and agricultural waste, for example—for a manufactured price of under $2 a gallon, according to a proposal it presented to an industry research council last year. Although Swift Fuel produces alcohol in its process, the fuel is not ethanol-based but rather combines acetone compounds derived from fermentation of biomass. Swift is continuing its testing through 2009 and seeking investors to fund further research and industrial rollout of the product.

[billnaz]

But.....sounds alot like the enthusiastic talk I hear about the "aviation diesel engine" that is "almost ready for production" every year at Oshkosh. Have they figured out the cellulosic breakdown enzime yet?

[breister]

I visited the lab on the way home from Indiana. Great folks, and they have some other cool stuff in the lab besides just biofuel. Stuff smells like your wife's nail polish remover. Also comes in a "diesel" variety, but they have many competitors in that market (it is easier to get a lower octane fuel, many are alcohol based rather than acetates).

The $2 / gallon figure assumes a fully functional large-scale plant; a steady supply of bio-mass (not likely year-round as crops have seasons); represents the production cost not a retail price (typically around 1/2 retail given transportation and point of sale markup); and includes no aviation or other fuel taxes. Still, they might get it delivered for $4 / gallon at the pump if the FAA pushes to exempt them since it creates jobs.

Low crude costs and our current economic forecast are likely to delay investors indefinitely.