Target Areas
The fuels that the institute will deal with initially include (1) the second and third generation biofuels derived from pyrolysis oils and algae oils, (2) green fuels through hydroprocessing or co-processing of bio-oils and petro-oils, (3) fuels derived from Fischer-Tropsch (FT) or gas-to-liquid (GTL) technology, and (4) fuels derived from heavy oils and synthetic crudes.
The institute will carry out the characterization of the feedstock, intermediates and products of the fuel processes, such as hydrotreating, hydrocracking, catalytic cracking and coking. To effectively use the analytical information or data for the processes, the research will involve molecular based modeling.
The heavy petroleum feedstock sourced from heavy oils is being studied actively by petroleum companies for prevention of fouling and deposits at wellhead, pipelines and refineries. The Institute's activities will enhance this proprietary effort.
The following summarizes the materials, focuses and disciplines of Future Fuels Institute.
Materials
- Biofuels - biocrudes (pyrolysis oils/algae oils), intermediates and products
- Green Fuels (after removing the oxygenates)
- Gas-to-liquid (GTL) (Fischer-Tropsch (FT)) Fuels
- Conventional Fuels (gasoline, diesel and jet fuels)
- Fuels from Heavy Oils
- Fuels from Synthetic Crudes
- Oil sands
- Oil shales
- Coals
- Synthetic gases
Focuses
- Feedstock/Intermediates/Products Characterization
- Hydroprocessing (hydrotreating, hydrofining, hydrocracking)
- Coking
- Bio-processing and Co-processing
- Molecular Composition-based Process Kinetic Modeling