BioJet 1: Biodiesel Takes Flight

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ivan Seeking
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Biodiesel Flight
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the potential of biodiesel, particularly from algae, as an alternative fuel for aviation. It includes considerations of energy density, land use for fuel versus food production, and recent experimental flights using biodiesel. The scope encompasses theoretical implications, practical applications, and environmental concerns.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants highlight the successful flight of a jet powered by biodiesel, noting its energy density comparable to regular diesel.
  • Concerns are raised about prioritizing land for fuel production over food, with one participant asserting that food is more important than air travel.
  • Others argue that biodiesel from algae does not compete with food resources, as it can be grown on non-arable land.
  • One participant suggests that converting land currently used for grass seed production could yield significant amounts of biodiesel.
  • There is enthusiasm for algae fuel and geothermal energy, with a call for support for those working in these fields.
  • A participant shares a personal connection to microalgae, indicating a belief in its potential for fuel production.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the prioritization of land use for fuel versus food, indicating a lack of consensus. While some support the use of algae for biodiesel, others remain skeptical about the overall viability of biodiesel as a future aviation fuel.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about the feasibility of algae cultivation and its environmental impact, which remain unresolved. The effectiveness of biodiesel in aviation is also presented without definitive conclusions.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals exploring alternative fuels, environmental sustainability, and the intersection of food production and energy resources.

Ivan Seeking
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Gold Member
Messages
8,252
Reaction score
2,664
Biodiesel may not become the airplane fuel of the future but it did prove effective enough to recently power a 1968 L-29 Czechoslovakian jet—dubbed BioJet 1—up to 17,000 feet (5,180 meters) over 37 minutes. A three minute, 15-second test the day before was the world's first flight entirely fueled by cooking oil.

"She flew and she flew just fine," says physicist Rudi Wiedemann, president and CEO of Biodiesel Solutions, Inc., whose company provided the fuel for the historic October flight: fresh canola oil refined into biodiesel. "We wanted to show that it was doable by just going out and doing it." [continued]
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=biodiesel-takes-to-the-sky

Actually, biodiesel is getting great attention wrt aviation because of its high energy density - almost as good as regular diesel.

Boeing and Virgin recently partnered in an effort to develop alternative fuels for aviation.
http://www.manufacturing.net/article.aspx?id=140037
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
More land for fuel rather than food, i think food is more important than air travel.
 
wolram said:
More land for fuel rather than food, i think food is more important than air travel.

Biodiesel from algae doesn't need to compete with food. It does not require good farmland in order to grow.

Where I live, if we converted just the land used to grow grass seed [which is used mainly for golf courses] to fuel production, we should be able to produce something like 2.5 billion gallons of fuel per year.

Also, for anyone who hasn't seen it, you should enjoy the biodiesel powered, Earthrace Wavepiercer Trimaran.
http://www.cld.co.nz/earthrace.htm
 
Last edited:
Ivan Seeking said:
Biodiesel from algae doesn't need to compete with food. It does not require good farmland in order to grow.

Where I live, if we converted just the land used to grow grass seed [which is used mainly for golf courses] to fuel production, we should be able to produce something like 2.5 billion gallons of fuel per year.

Also, for anyone who hasn't seen it, you should enjoy the biodiesel powered, Earthrace Wavepiercer Trimaran.
http://www.cld.co.nz/earthrace.htm

I am all ready a great believer in algae fuel and geothermal, anyone working in these areas get my backing.
 
You can send your checks to Ivan Seeking at... :biggrin:

The red blotches on my avatar are the pockets of oil within microalgae. The algae are probably around 10 microns in size.