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Text 9. Renewable Diesel Fuel
Ethanol and biodiesel, made from plant matter instead of petroleum, can be blended with or directly substitute for gasoline and diesel respectively.
Biodiesel is made by transforming animal fat or vegetable oil with alcohol and can be directly substituted for diesel either as neat fuel (B 100) or as an oxygenate additive. In Europe, the largest producer and user of biodiesel, the fuel is usually made from rapeseed oil. In the United States, the second largest producer and user of biodiesel, the fuel is usually made from soybean oil or recycled restaurant grease. In 2002, 15 million gallons of biodiesel was consumed in the United States.
E-Diesel is a fuel that uses additives in order to allow blending of ethanol with diesel. It includes ethanol blends of 7.7,% to 15% and up to 5% special additives that prevent the ethanol and diesel from separating at very low temperatures or if water contamination occurs. Use of E-Diesel would also increase demand for ethanol, as diesel vehicles in the U.S. consume approximately 36 billion gallons of diesel a year.
E-Diesel is currently an experimental fuel and is being developed by many companies. Demonstrations are currently being conducted on the use of E-Diesel in heavy-duty trucks, buses, and farm machinery. There is a light increase in operating costs due to a slight (7-10%) mileage decreases with E-Diesel use. However, there are many environmental benefits to using E-diesel, such as reduced emissions of Particulate Matter from 27% to 41%, Carbon Monoxide from 20% to 27%, Nitrogen Oxides 4% to 5%. Supporters of E-Diesel see it as a major new market for ethanol and an effective way to help engine manufacturers meet tough new emission standards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. For instance, it can take up to 10 years for manufacturers to phase in new engine designs that reduce emissions and meet tough new standards. However, switching to E-diesel gets immediate environmental benefits. Use of biofuels reduces toxic air emissions, greenhouse gas buildup, and dependence on imported oil, while supporting agriculture and rural economies. Unlike gasoline and diesel, biofuels contain oxygen. Adding biofuels to petroleum products allows the fuel to combust more completely and this reduces air pollution. When fossil fuels such as petroleum are burned, they also release carbon dioxide that was captured by plants billions of years ago. This release contributes to the buildup of greenhouse gases that contributes to climate change.
The total area of Ukraine is about 604 thousand km2, of which agricultural lands occupy 70%. Ukraine has rather good conditions for growing rapeseed as raw material for biodiesel production. Presently about 300 thousand ha of land are used for growing rapeseed with an annual growth rate of about 50 to 80% during the last three years. Rapeseed oil plants have already been constructed in Vynnytsa, Chernivtsi, Ternopil region. A typical rapeseed oil plant can require 400000 tons annually to operate at full capacity. Each plant would produce 100000 tons of biofuel per year.
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture average yield of rape seed in Ukraine is only about 1.3 t/ha1 that is very low for profitable production of biodiesel. To achieve higher yields and increase quality of rapeseeds it is necessary to invest in farm production technology. Despite very low average figure some farms have yields of rape up to 3.0 t/ha. Another precondition for profitable production of biodiesel is the utilization of valuable by-products – glycerin and grist.
Lands of so called Chernobyl zone are especially interesting for rapeseed production in Ukraine. According to estimation of experts, 100 thousand ha of the contaminated lands are suitable for growing technical crops and 500 thousand hectares of cleaner lands are suitable for growing technical and food crops. Most of rapeseed and rapeseed oil have been exported to Europe. Presently there are no proven facts about industrial (commercial) production of bio-diesel in Ukraine. Activity on production of bio-diesel and its energy usage is mainly at research and development level.
Ukraine could become a major exporter of biofuels within a few years, and a consumer of this fuel as well. State support is needed to encourage usage of biodiesel fuels on the local market.
Note:
1t/ha – ton / hectare
Exercise 99. Translate the following word combinations.
Plant matter, toxic air emissions, greenhouse gas buildup, air pollution, carbon dioxide, oxygenate additive, rapeseed oil, recycled grease, ethanol blends, water contamination, heavy-duty truck, farm machinery, environmental benefits, reduced emissions, engine design, tough standards.
Exercise 100. Look through the types of attributive groups of words. Translate them.
1) V-ing + n
growing trees, burning fuel, decomposing waste, increasing number, decreasing size, importing oil.
2) adv + V-ing + n
fast growing trees, quickly burning fuel, partially decomposing waste, constantly increasing number, steadily decreasing size, presently importing oil.
3) V-ed + n
defined term, processed waste, generated electricity, developed technologies, achieved results, converted energy, satisfied requirements.
4) adv V-ed + n
clearly defined term, fully processed waste, constantly generated electricity, recently developed technologies, quickly achieved results, commercially converted energy, partially satisfied requirements.
5) n + n
energy source, vegetable oil, waste water, solar energy, energy generation, world popularization, biomass research, timber industry, cost reduction.
Exercise 101. Match the word in column A with its opposite in column B.
| A | B |
| 1. pure 2. increased 3. heavy 4. healthy 5. tough 6. solid 7. organic 8. toxic 9. rural 10. changeable | a) light b) liquid c) unpoisonous d) inorganic e) urban f) stable g) reduced h) flexible i) blended j) harmful |
Exercise 102. Work in pairs. Make questions for each answer below. Use the question words given in brackets.
1. Biodiesel is made by transforming animal fat or vegetable oil with alcohol. (How? What?)
2. Biodiesel can be directly substituted for diesel either as neat fuel or as an oxygenate additive. (What?)
3. Europe is the largest producer and user of biodiesel. (What? What country?)
4. In the United States the fuel is usually made from soybean. (What?)
5. It can take up to 10 years for manufacturers to phase in new engine designs that reduce emissions. (How long?)
6. Use of biofuels reduces toxic air emissions and dependence on imported oil. (What?)
7. In 2003 ethanol produced from corn reached 2.81 billion gallons. (How many?)
8. In the United States biomass was the source for 47% of all renewable energy. (Where? What?)
9. Adding biofuels to petroleum products allows the fuel to combust more completely. (What?)
Exercise 103. Fill in the blanks with the prepositions given below.
(By, for, from, on, to, in, of).
1. Ethanol and biodiesel are made … plant matter instead … petroleum. 2. Biodiesel is made … transforming animal fat or vegetable oil with alcohol and can be directly substituted … diesel fuel. 3. In Europe biodiesel is usually made … rapeseed oil. 4. Special additives prevent the ethanol and diesel … separating at very low temperatures or if water contamination occurs. 5. The United States is the second largest producer and user … biodiesel. 6. Use … biofuels reduces toxic air emissions and dependence … imported oil. 7. Greenhouse gases contribute … climate changes. 8. Use … biofuels results … substantially reduced net greenhouse gas emissions.
Exercise 104. Rewrite the following sentences in the Active Voice.
1. When fossil fuels such as petroleum are burned, they release carbon dioxide. 2. Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol, can be used as an alternative fuel or pollution – reducing additive to gasoline. 3. E-Diesel is currently an experimental fuel and is being developed by many companies. 4. Biodiesel is made by transforming animal fat or vegetable oil with alcohol. 5. Demonstrations are currently being conducted on the use of E-Diesel in heavy-duty trucks, buses and farm machinery. 6. In 2002, 15 million gallons of biodiesel was consumed in the United States of America. 7. The majority of electricity production from biomass is used as base load power in the existing electrical distribution systems. 8. Gasoline and diesel can be substituted by biofuels. 9. Biofuels are burned in a boiler to produce high pressure steam. 10. 48% of biomass energy was consumed by paper industry.
Exercise 105. Complete the sentences by putting the verb in brackets into the correct Active or Passive tense forms.
1. The biogas can (clean) and (filter) to remove problem chemical compounds. 2. The biomass fuel (burn) in boilers to produce high pressure steam. 3. The steam (flow) over a series of aerodynamic turbine blades, causing the turbine to rotate. 4. The turbine (connect) to an electric generator. 5. As the steam flow (cause) the turbine to rotate, the electric generator (turn) and electricity (produce). 6. Biomass (use) as base load power in the existing electrical distribution systems. 7. Ethanol (make) from cellulose biomass, such as agricultural forestry residues, industrial waste, trees and grasses. 8. This technology must (improve) the quality. 9. Ethyl alcohol (use) either as an alternative fuel or as an octane-boosting, pollution reducing additive to gasoline. 10. E-Diesel is a fuel that (use) additives in order to allow blending of ethanol with diesel.
Exercise 106.Translate into English.
1. Не існує загально прийнятого визначення поняття відновлюваної енергетики. 2. Відновлювана енергія – це енергія, отримана з сонця, вітру, біомаси, геотермальних, гідроенергетичних та океанських ресурсів, а також твердої біомаси та рідких біопалив. 3. Україна повинна терміново шукати альтернативні джерела енергії та впроваджувати енергозберігаючі технології. 4. Біодизельне пальне є найбільш сильним і прогресивно зростаючим сектором відновлюваної енергетики в ЄС. 5. Головним фактором, що зараз стримує поширення відновлюваних джерел енергії є порівняно висока собівартість виробництва. 6. Постачальники бензину та інших видів нафтопродуктів не зацікавлені в заміщенні їх продукції біодизельним пальним або етиловим спиртом. 7. Уряд України підтримує розвиток відновлюваних джерел енергії. 8. Вартість технологій з виробництва біодизельного пального буде значною мірою залежати від рівня технічного прогресу та напрямків державної політики. 9. Біодизельне пальне розробляється багатьма компаніями. 10. Розробка нових двигунів, які будуть працювати на біодизельному пальному, дозволить зменшити викиди двоокису вуглецю в атмосферу. 11. Європа є найбільшим виробником і споживачем біодизельного пального. 12. В США біодизельне пальне виробляється із соєвої олії. 13. Землі так званої Чорнобильської зони є особливо привабливими для вирощування ріпаку в Україні.
Exercise 107. Discuss the following questions using the information below.
1. What steps could be taken by the government of Ukraine to support producers and consumers of biodiesel?
2. What plant matter can be used to produce biodiesel in Ukraine?
Lately some positive trends have taken place concerning further development of biodiesel production in Ukraine and its approach to commercial level. The Ministry of Agriculture, several regional administrations and private companies announced plans to build plants for producing biofuels from rapeseed in Zhitomir, Sumy, Vynnytsa, Khmelnitsky and other regions. Each plant would reportedly cost about $35 million and would produce 100000 tons of biofuels per year.
Exercise 108. Memorize the following words and word combinations to text 10.
Inexhaustible – невичерпний
nucleus (pl. nuclei) – атомне ядро
nuclear fission – ядерний поділ
nuclear fusion – злиття ядер
occur – відбуватися, траплятися
explosion – вибух
split – розщеплюватись
chain reaction – ланцюгова реакція
collide – зіштовхуватись
helium – гелій
get rid of – позбавлятися
release – звільняти, випускати
cell – клітина
dump – сховище; скидати, звалювати
harness – використовувати (стосовно енергії)
meltdown – розплавляти
rod – стержень
Exercise 109. Before reading text 10, discuss the following questions.
1. What are sources of energy and where are they used for? 2. What different sources of energy do you know? 3. How is fossil energy generated? 4. What is alternative energy?
Exercise 110. Read text 10 and make the plan of key ideas.