Does this efficiency increase from the scientific community's accepted production level for corn based ethanol of 3 gal/bushel to this machine's 5 gal/bushel mean that the international land use penalty will now decrease by that corresponding 40% also since this ethanol production is corn based?

I would really like to see the "technology" behind this "machine." I know that with modern drymill technology the amount of ethanol per bushel of corn (which is about 75%starch in the kernal) the yields are about 2.78 gallons per bushel. When the entire fermentation is complete there is barely even 1% or less of total sugars left over. The question then is... what is the source of the "extra" 2.22 gallons of ethanol (the difference of the claims of 5 gallons per bushel). Unless the machine is using lots of cobs and stalks added into the process, and can convert that into cellulosic ethanol, I really don't see the numbers adding up! Sort of reminds me of the "perpetual motion machine."

Thanks for the comments. I am one of the members of the Company in Michigan that is producing the RFS System. First, I need to note that our system produces 100 proof ethanol NOT 200 proof which may account for the confusion on how much ethanol we get per bushel. However, we are getting 5 gallons of 100 proof ethanol per bushel of corn. At this time the system produces 80 to 100 proof ethanol. We are working with Michigan State at the MSU Bio-Economy Institute and we are improving our ethanol quality through lab testing and use of improved yeast and enzymes. We will be using our ethanol with a CleanFlex Power Systems diesel conversion kit that enables diesel engines to operate using a dual fuel system. I would be happy to discuss the system with anyone. We are looking to work with Farmers in Michigan on the Pilot test program this spring. My email is Richard@efarms-us.com Thanks

So this is for a dual fuel set up. We need to concentrate on one fuel that can mix with petroleum to lower over all costs to everyone or a stand alone renewable fuel to eliminate petroleum altogether. Found on the web are some great articles and maybe on this site also, as I have only just found it, about advances being made with algae either producing a bio-diesel blend or one company from Florida that is making algae produce ethanol and using salt water. That would relieve the need for food sources and potable water. Another company I just read about is going to produce an engine with GM that runs on and is suppose to meet standards of a diesel but runs on ethanol. The only problem with it that I see is that they are still using E85. Whereas diesels can run straight bio diesel with out major or most cases no modifications. Well that is till the government EPA got hold of the tail pipes. But that is a whole other rant. So either make an engine that will run on one or the other and produce the fuel for it. Mass market the engine and fuel to lower costs and let's move on.

Shawn, I agree that we need to make all efforts to eliminate petroleum products. That is not going to happen all at once and our system and the diesel conversion kits we utilize are a great first step. I do want to point out that you are able to utilize bio-diesel and our 100 proof ethanol with the coversion kits which would eliminate your petroleum issues. Why make a farmer or truck driver purchase a brand new piece of equipment when there is technology that enables his current equipment to operate cleaner and greener. In addition we are working closely with MSU in Michigan testing various organic and cellulosic products in our system to increase the number of products that can be 'fed' into our system to produce ethanol.

~quote~ "Richard Edmonds = ...our system produces 100 proof ethanol NOT 200 proof which may account for the confusion on how much ethanol we get per bushel." ~unquote~ So at a "50%=EtOH / 50%=H2O" the yield for a bushel of corn for amounts of alcohol produced is 2.5 gallons per bushel?! The article in it's statements is rather misleading. The yields are not any better (and not as good) than any large modern drymill plant will produce. This is not a criticism about your invention, just a clarification of production yields. I am surprised that you cannot get any better than a 100 proof ethanol when most distillation systems/units will easily yield 185-190 proof ethanol. I am however "intrigued" about the design because I have thought that it would be fun to own/operate my own small ethanol plant. I farmed for 20+ years and still have grain equipment. ;-) I have helped commission enough big plants across the midwest! I does sound as though your invention may need tweeking to improve the quality (proof) of the final product. Good Luck!

Hi C.B. thanks for the good luck wishes. Please feel free to email me at Richard@efarms-us.com I would like to get your input and let you know how we are doing. I think it is important to stress that we are working with new technology here with our process to produce ethanol and with the CleanFlex Dual Fuel system. I think you are not considering the 'fuel' correctly when you remove the water from the equation and only concentrate on the ethanol. The water is a vital part of the fuel which is 100 proof ethanol. Our claim is that we make 5 gallons of 100 proof ethanol for fuel in farm equipment and diesel engines. To say well that is only 2.5 gallons of ethanol misses the point. So what, it is only 2.5 gallons of ethanol that is only half of the fuel. The purpose is to enable farmers and industries that work with organic waste to produce a fuel that will run their diesel engines. With the CleanFlex Conversion kit a person can use the 100 proof ethanol fuel produced by our system to run their diesel engines. We don't want to produce 200 proof ethanol like the large ethanol factories do. As you and others on this blog know, there is very little cost to produce 100 proof ethanol, the major cost is the distilling process that takes the ethanol from 100 proof to 200 proof. We don't want to make the farmer spend that time and money producing 200 proof ethanol. You can not get a large ethanol plant to stop its process at 100 proof. That is our process. You can't get a large ethanol plant to take your waste apples or cherries or blueberries. That is our process. We are working with Michigan State University at their Bio-Economy Institute in Holland, Michigan to start testing cellulosic products such as sorghum and Tropical Maize (sugar corn stalks) our system because it is small and versitile can accomplish all of this and produce 100 proof ethanol which when using the CleanFlex conversion kit and a dual fuel system can run a diesel engine. In tests on an over the road semi truck we have seen 47% diesel fuel savings. and by the way our system will cost less than $100,000. Thanks again for your comment and for your support and interest.