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Miracle Fuel - Soon at Your Nearest Gas Station by Axel Meierhoefer
In my attempts to describe new information and interesting developments in the field of eco-consciousness and green innovation, today's story revolves around a fuel invented by Gene Jackson and his company, Power Ecalene Fuels, Inc. (PEFI). The term Ecalene is trademarked to the company.
As we have seen many times before, some of the most suitable inventions are made ahead of their time. The hype about Hybrid technology in the last few years goes back to inventions made in the 40's and 50's. To bring the idea to market in a large enough scale was not feasible at the time, not just because gas was cheap, but because all the other components necessary to make it work weren't available.
Something similar is true about Jackson's invention, or should I say improvements. He picked up on an innovation originally made by Dow Chemicals. At the time they invented a fluid called Syngas, fossil based fuels were so cheap that there was no real market. PEFI went back some time ago, improved the process, got its own patents, and is now working on bringing its miracle fuel to market. The stuff is called "Ecalene" (please assume to have a trademark sign behind this term each time it shown in the article). Below is what I found at the PEFI website (paraphrased and condensed):
"Company founder Gene Jackson has been improving the Ecalene production process for 20 years. Several million dollars were spent perfecting the gas-to-liquid technology excluding any R&D expenditures from Dow Chemical, originator of the alcohol-from-syngas process. Independent patents were provided to Jackson for his development. The company now seeks to spread its green technology globally by operating its own production facilities and licensing its patented technology internationally."
Here is how the company describes itself and its positioning for Ecalene:
"Mission Statement:
To provide clean fuel and green fuel alternatives to fossil fuels that will curb the U.S. dependence on foreign oil while reducing global warming and eliminating potentially toxic waste from our soil and ground water.
Objective
To become the recognized world leader in clean fuels production technology and to provide more green fuel globally through deployment of its technology than any other clean fuel provider.
Ecalene has an octane rating of 124+ that is 33% to 43% higher than regular unleaded gasoline, which is rated between 87 and 93 Octane. It is 10% higher than ethanol at a 113 octane rating and 18% higher than for E85 fuel.
Ecalene's formulation properties enable it to be used as a stand-alone fuel in flex-fuel engines and in jet aircraft. Ecalene has higher energy content than ethanol and will provide better gas mileage than ethanol when blended into gasoline as an oxygenate or octane booster. Ecalene has been registered with the EPA as a fuel additive. It is roughly estimated that Ecalene will reduce car emissions to levels 80-90% of the emissions levels for unleaded gasoline. Most cars, trucks, buses, jet aircraft and boats can be modified to run on pure Ecalene.
Protection of our environment is the primary driving force behind the development of the Ecalene system. The technology was devised at a time when gasoline was cheap and neither energy producers nor the public were committed to a clean environment - only cheap energy.
Today the world recognizes the damage we have done to the environment in our quest to deliver cheap energy. As a global community, we have become more sensitized to the need for maintaining the only environment we have. It must continue to produce clean air, water, food and energy for a rapidly expanding population. The Ecalene product technology is designed to improve virtually every aspect of the global environment from reducing global warming to improving water quality.
Coal & Natural Gas (Clean Not Green)
Using natural gas or raw coal promises to produce the largest volume of Ecalene fuel at minimum cost, potentially enough to totally displace crude oil in the creation of transportation fuel. It is estimated that America has a 300-year supply of coal, oil shale, and other hydrocarbons. Coal is one of the nation's most abundant energy resources, currently supplying about half the nation's electricity demand. Gasifying coal to produce alcohol fuel utilizing the PECI process is considerably more environmentally favorable than combusting it to produce electricity.
Municipal Waste Is Green
Despite the ability of the Ecalene production system to create "clean fuels" from coal and other fossil fuels, these resources are not renewable. Ecalene can be used to create renewable or "green" fuels from feedstock that is renewable. Utilizing organic wastes, such as MSW, as feedstock represents the most environmentally friendly, economically viable, and virtually untapped source of renewable energy for the country.
Americans create over 300 million tons of municipal solid waste annually, of which about one- third is recycled. Municipalities currently pay waste management contractors about $23 a ton to receive ship and bury waste. On average, about 80% of MSW can be gasified, and it is roughly estimated that the 200 million tons currently placed in landfills each year could produce 10 to 20 billion gallons of Ecalene.
Other Green Feedstock
Besides MSW and sludge that grow proportionally with the increase in population, Ecalene can also utilize plentiful cellulosic biomass including wood waste. When combined with their MSW, large wood waste producing states (Georgia, Oregon, Arkansas etc.) can produce half their fuel requirements from the biomass they generate.
If you like to learn more, go to: powerecalene.com/index.php
When looking at many of the applications imaginable for this miracle fuel, I wonder if it would be feasible to use a lot of the gas and the organic material our communities have been dumping into landfills to create Ecalene. This would potentially lead to a number of applications:
- The community could use the fuel generated to run its municipal fleet of cars, buses, trucks, etc. for everything from police, fire, mass-transit to city maintenance, etc
- Each city has energy needs to heat and light its buildings. That could probably be achieved through generators run by Ecalene
- Larger cities could develop public transportation systems that run on Ecalene or go even one step further and provide so called flexible city-transportation option, as recently introduced in Europe. You park you vehicle at the outskirts of the town and get into a city provided small car, bikes, buses, etc
- In farming communities the municipalities could work with the agricultural companies to use all the bio-degradable material to generate Ecalene and provide any surplus to the workers and their families as well as use it form all the farming equipment.
- Finally, if anybody has ever driven by a feed yard for milk production and industrial beef or pork, the stink is unbearable. Providing it to a PEFI facility could probably significantly reduce the smell, allow the animals to live in better conditions, and generate fuel form all the biomass they consume during the day. This could work in conjunction with biogas generators or all by itself.
This is the quiet before the storm. Looking for credible alternatives is important, and it appears to me that Ecalene is one of them, especially if PEFI can stay away form liquefying natural gas to create it.
As always, feel free to comment and let me know what you think about miracle fuel Ecalene.
Axel Meierhoefer is a published author, educator, coach, consultant, and the founder of Axel Meierhoefer Consulting LLC (AMC LLC). He is helping business and individuals with an eco-conscious mind.
His motto is" Helping others help themselves achieve success". To get your own free coaching session, contact us or send an email to AM@Meierhoefer.net or visit:
http://www.ecoconsciouspioneers.com
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http://thezeitgeistischanging.blogspot.com/
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