CC Technologies Leading Research Efforts for Ethanol Transportation

10/02/07

The use of ethanol-blended gasoline is rapidly increasing in the United States and existing pipelines are considered the most cost effective method of transporting this more environmentally-friendly fuel. However, issues regarding the reliable and safe transportation of ethanol through existing pipelines have led the Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI) to select CC Technologies, a DNV company, to conduct a research study on the topic. This research is of particular importance with the passage of the Renewable Fuels Standard into law in 2005, which calls for an increase in the production of renewable fuels, such as ethanol, from 4.0 billion gallons in 2006 to 7.5 billion gallons by 2012.

Several technical issues have to be addressed in order to ensure safe and reliable transportation of ethanol. Chief among these technical issues is the potential for stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of steel in the presence of ethanol. SCC of carbon steel has been observed in fuel grade ethanol (FGE) storage tanks and associated piping systems at terminals. SCC has not yet been reported in transmission pipelines, but there is very limited experience with transporting ethanol via pipelines due to the uncertainty of SCC. 

The scope of the project is to determine the requirements for existing pipeline, tank and terminal systems to transport ethanol without SCC. The project will research what ethanol-gasoline blends can be safely transported, the timeframe at which SCC occurs, and safe operating practices that mitigate the initiation and growth of SCC. In particular, the research will determine which blends can be transported through existing pipeline systems with little to no modifications, which blends can be transported with modifications and which blends cannot be practically transported through existing systems. Additional phases of the project will address corrosion of pipeline steels, as well as the compatibility of seals, gaskets, and other rubber materials currently in use. The first phase of the project began in August 2007 and will last approximately 12 months.

It is Dr. Sridhar’s hope, as the project lead, that CC Technologies will help develop standards and guidelines for the transportation of ethanol through these efforts. “We want to serve the industry needs by addressing all the issues related to safe and reliable transportation of FGE in an expedient, but comprehensive manner,” explained Dr. Sridhar. “This research will provide a framework for examining other bio-fuels as well,” concluded Dr. Sridhar on the importance of the project.

The use of ethanol and other renewable fuels is of the utmost importance to maintaining the energy needs in the U.S. and CC Technologies is leading the way in research to make this possible.