Adaptation of Geothermal Energy to Produce Alcohol from Agricultural Commodities

Abstract

Geothermal energy resources can be utilized to supply the thermal energy requirements of ethanol producing facilities. The production of ethanol requires maximum geothermal brine temperatures of 350°F if corn or wheat is the initial raw materials, and a 275°F source when starting with sugar beets. These applications are economically competitive with fossil fuels. As a basis for this study, a typical alcohol process was analyzed before and after conversion to geothermal heating. No attempt was made in this preliminary stud to optimize the process with respect to the new geothermal energy source, since a determination of feasibility was the primary objective. The geothermal costs developed are based on the nature of the resource in the San Luis Valley of Colorado. This tends to be an expensive geothermal area because the hot waters are relatively deep. Accordingly, the geothermal cost could be less expensive at the other sites.