Algae bioreactor - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Botnst · #31 07-25-2008, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichC

.

Follow your own bouncing ball.
That is how we have gotten into this mess.
It has not been the solution, but the cause.

Companies making huge profits while we pay more and more for less and less.
The little guy gets squashed, and nothing changes.

.

I don't see a mess, sorry. I see life. Deal with it.

B

79-240d-project · #32 07-25-2008, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

Use your own money. Don't extort money from me to spend on your pet project.

B

It already is our own money!

Botnst · #33 07-25-2008, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 79-240d-project

It already is our own money!

It's not my money unless I decide how to spend it.

aklim · #34 07-25-2008, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee8go

Wonder what would happen if the US gubmint was to fund some research like that instead of blowing all of our fricking tax money on this stupid war?

It would never take off or it would not work either because of the cost or because of the complexity involved now that they are involved. Also, taxes will go up even more because it is a popular program. How many government programs do you see that don't somehow come back to bite us in the ass? Govt involvement? No thanx.

aklim · #35 07-25-2008, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselAddict

The downside is more addition to oil. What are you gonna do when oil runs out? There'll be severe withdrawal symptoms to say the least. Plus it will make climate change worse and replenish Al Qaeda's budget.

Dunno what to do then but it might be 5 generations from today or 1 or 3 or 8. Nobody knows.

aklim · #36 07-25-2008, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 79-240d-project

I for one feel the governments refusal to fund a mini-manhattan project to develop and implement a broad spectrum alternative energy project is criminal

Germany is Germany. Their things are very different. No sense in comparing apples to oranges because the answer will not be meaningful. Lets look at the history of government. They get involved, taxes go up, things don't get done, stupid things get done, complexity gets higher and you may or may not get what you wanted initially. Even if you do get it, the price is higher. We were talking about the Gas Tax Holiday. Why am I for it even though it won't mean that much? Well, 46 cents out of every dollar that is supposed to be sent to road maintenance gets spent on something else. WTF? Sorry, the govt doesn't need the money. IF we could do the roads some other way without involving the govt, it can't be worse. If the govt gets involved in this, energy will cost more, more paperwork and probably less results. And if anyone cares, probably more wastage on some stupid project.

Problem is people are too lazy. Like with Little Red Riding Hood, they want the woodcutter (in this case the govt) to kill the wolf. They don't want to do it themselves. Oh, that would be too hard. Problem is that in the story, we never know what happens AFTER LLRH is saved. In this case, the woodcutter disappears. In real life, the Woodcutter probably takes LLRH to the bedroom and boinks her till she can't walk.

aklim · #37 07-25-2008, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

Check it out.

http://www.valcent.net/i/misc/Vertigro/index.html

Does anyone have a actual yield? I know he said that corn produces 18 gals of oil per acre and Palm gets 700-800 gals per acre. This gives 20000 gals per acre. However that is in a pond system. What I want to know is how much in that bioreactor. Now, another thing is what is the cost going to be to do the setup?

Other than that, I like the idea that you can custom tailor the fuel you get out of it.

aklim · #38 07-25-2008, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselAddict

Yeah, but watch out. It's possible if SA senses that we're getting close to finding a viable alternative energy source that can replace oil, they will start pumping oil like crazy and make it drop in price sufficiently that it becomes the most attractive option again.

Like how much can they pump? Enough to make it go down to $20 a barrel? I think not.

Chad300tdt · #39 07-25-2008, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Does anyone have a actual yield? I know he said that corn produces 18 gals of oil per acre and Palm gets 700-800 gals per acre. This gives 20000 gals per acre. However that is in a pond system. What I want to know is how much in that bioreactor. Now, another thing is what is the cost going to be to do the setup?

Other than that, I like the idea that you can custom tailor the fuel you get out of it.

http://www.scribemedia.org/2007/12/12/algae-biofuel-valcent-vertigro/

Quote:

Initial Test Results Indicate at Least 33,000 gallons of Algae Oil per Acre Possible

DieselAddict · #40 07-25-2008, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

None of it requires a national response other than getting the f**k out of the way of entrepreneurs and financial risk-takers. You know who they are, right? Speculators! Demon Spawn!
B

What alternative energy entrepreneurs need most is an oil price floor or at least the same tax privileges that the oil industry enjoys. Their biggest fear is investing all this money only to see it disappear when oil prices crash. The government can be much more useful than simply getting out of the way. It can actually play a constructive role. It's the oil lobby that needs to get the f**k out of the way.

aklim · #41 07-25-2008, 01:08 PM

I'd be curious to see what they can sell the "oil" for and whether it would be profitable and in how long. IOW, what does this oil cost per barrel. If it is cheaper, we might be on to something.

I'm not sure. It talks of diesel but can it actually produce gasoline and economically? IOW, what would it cost me at the pump today if I dumped a gallon of that stuff instead of say D2?

aklim · #42 07-25-2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselAddict

Their biggest fear is investing all this money only to see it disappear when oil prices crash.

The government can be much more useful than simply getting out of the way. It can actually play a constructive role.

Do you honestly see that as a likely event? IOW, OPEC suddenly flooding the market? Not talking about a $10 a barrel drop. Maybe if the price of oil crashed tomorrow to say $50 a barrel, I might worry about investing in this company.

You understand the difference between "can" and "will", right? What have they done lately that convinces you that they "will" be more useful in the project than out? Sure, the govt "can" be more useful than just getting out of the way. If you think it is likely to happen, you might consider grafting wings on a pig and see if it "can" fly. Probably as much chance of it happening. You seem so optimistic that the govt can do this and can do that. Maybe in Europe under different circumcisions. What have they done HERE that convinces you that they are more likely to help than hinder? The gas tax where 46 cents on the dollar is spent on non-road related projects (something that wasn't supposed to happen)? The Tobacco Settlement that is spent on who knows what besides Tobacco Cessation Programs? The raiding of caches of money for other pet projects?

450slcguy · #43 07-25-2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Like how much can they pump? Enough to make it go down to $20 a barrel? I think not.

With the profits SA is making they have plenty of money to add to the drilling/pumping infrastructure. They just have to want too. Oil 3 years ago was what, $40 a barrel?

Mike D · #44 07-25-2008, 01:20 PM

Why would OPEC flood the market? They can still sell their oil to the Asian countries. China alone, could easily use any oil earmarked for the U.S.

I'm thinking sustainability is the key phrase here. IF they can make this a viable source of oils then they have a shot, price or no price.

If our money stays here, then it's of greater benefit to us than it is over in OPEC or South America. SOMEBODY here in the U.S. is going to put their share of the money back into OUR monetary system.

aklim · #45 07-25-2008, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 450slcguy

With the profits SA is making they have plenty of money to add to the drilling/pumping infrastructure. They just have to want too. Oil 3 years ago was what, $40 a barrel?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_of_petroleum

This trend continued into early August 2005, as NYMEX crude oil futures contracts surged past $65 as consumers kept up the demand for gasoline despite its high price. Crude oil futures peaked at a close of over $77 in July 2006

Note, the USD was a lot stronger then as opposed to now.

In raw dollar terms, yes they are getting more but do you think it might not be as much when it filters down?

But lets say you are right and they do just that. The next question is whether they have the capacity to pump enough to lower the oil price that much.