Media Release
For Immediate Distribution
“Quantum leap” by Whitefox Technologies
poised to shake up ethanol industry
New technology doubles net energy efficiency of ethanol production
June 22, 2007 – Calgary, AB: A new ethanol dehydration concept from Whitefox Technologies is bound to result in major improvements for the ethanol production industry. Whitefox has demonstrated energy increases measured at more than 100% of the US average, promising the industry greater legitimacy and individual producers increased profitability.
Traditional fuel ethanol production has suffered from unsatisfactory return on energy used. For every 100 units of energy used to produce ethanol, the energy output has averaged only 139 units – an increase in useable energy of only 39%. For that reason, critics have claimed fuel ethanol doesn’t represent a viable energy source.
But now, by using Whitefox’ technology, increases in useable energy are being measured at 81% – more than double the national average.
“What industry has experienced,” says Dr. Stephan Blum, Whitefox’ Chief Operating Officer, “is a quantum leap in its large-scale fuel ethanol production capabilities.”
Whitefox has been retrofitting plants in Europe for over five years and has recently begun retrofits in the USA. Two of the US plants now being retrofitted will together produce 220 million US gallons of fuel ethanol on an annual basis. Two new plants will jointly supply the US market with 300 million gallons per year.
“Legitimizing the industry as a bona fide provider of energy in the form of liquid fuel is an obvious benefit to individual producers,” says Dr. Blum. “And that benefit will ultimately benefit consumers. Our customers are reporting significant increases in productivity and substantial reductions in costs of production. Both of those things are needed for the industry to be viable in the long term. Producers must realize reasonable returns on their investments and consumers have to have access to fuel at reasonable costs.”
Whitefox is a systems integrator. It employs proprietary, internationally patented technology and processes to optimize its customers’ ethanol production capabilities. In doing so, it works closely with its customers’ own engineering departments and third party engineering contractors to assess efficiencies throughout their facilities.
“We haven’t yet publicized this technology,” says Dr. Blum, “maybe its time to do so. The underlying technology is well-proven. We’ve worked out all the kinks. We can now say with confidence that this is the technology that will make ethanol the renewable energy source the world is looking for.”
According to Dr. Blum, the impressive results are achieved by changes made throughout the production system. These changes are only made possible because of unique characteristics of Whitefox’ membrane technology – which offers an opportunity for modifications in both heat integration and energy rebalancing.
“In the near-term future,” Dr. Blum says, “we expect to demonstrate efficiency improvements of more than 400%.”
Whitefox capitalizes on the wide operating range of its membrane modules. Using them, ethanol-water mixtures having a water concentration of 50% or more, can be energy-efficiently dehydrated in a single step to yield product with a purity of 99.95%. The use of traditional equipment is not viable for ethanol-water mixtures containing more than 8% water. Because only 99.60% ethanol is required in fuel ethanol production, Whitefox’ modules complete the dehydration process very easily and cost effectively.
In addition, Whitefox’ membranes boast a high temperature tolerance — up to 350 Fahrenheit (180 Celsius). No other membrane-based system can be operated under such extremes. In addition, Whitefox’ polymeric membranes operate under atmospheric, medium and high pressure conditions, making them suitable for all ethanol plants. Individual membrane module units will meet the demands of producers ranging from 150 gallons per hour (1.2 million gallons per year) through to 1,500 gallons per hour (12.5 million gallons per year ). The units’ modular design makes both small production increases and large production scale-ups very simple.
Whitefox is in the process of scaling up its own production to manage the growing demand for its technology and equipment. That demand is being generated by both retrofit and new plant owners.
Whitefox Technologies Limited specializes in developing breakthrough technologies (processes and products) designed to revolutionize industry. The company is focused on the production of green fuels and on the generation of clean electrical power through the use of alcohol fuel cells.
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For further media information, photos or interviews, please contact:
Daorcey Le Bray
Consultant
NATIONAL Public Relations
dlebray@national.ca
403.531.0331
For detailed information about Whitefox and how its technology and know-how can improve your ethanol production, please contact:
Dr. Stephan Blum
Chief Operating Officer
Whitefox Technologies Canada Limited
sblum@whitefox.com
403.220.1000
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Daorcey Le Bray
Consultant
NATIONAL Public Relations
800 6th Avenue SW Suite 1600
Calgary Alberta Canada T2P 3G3
T 403-531-0331
F 403-531-0030
www.national.ca
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