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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1981-01-15, Page 19Could use farm by-product: Citizens News, January 22, 19111 Page 7 Centralia holds fuel alcohol production seminar A seminar on "Fuel Alcohol Production on the Farm" drew a good- atten- dance at Centralia College, Monday. Two of the speakers were Marty Mirik, of ,the. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food in North Bay and. George Jones of Stewart Seeds in Ailsa Craig, The subjects covered in- cluded *the equipment need- ed, crops to produce the product, how to 'use it, ex- isting motor changes and utilization of internal com- bustion exchanges. Jack Underwood, an agricultural engineer at CCAT said he expected on:. farm demonstration wilts may be set up in _Ontario within the next two years. OMAF has set up an energy resource . centre .in Toronto and hopes to follow with an on-farm alcohol production demonstration. Underwood continued, "Our laws concerning. alcohol production are very stringent and need to be changed to allow the use of alcohol for fuel. Licences are only ;250 but a bond of 4200,000 is necessary to en- sure the product is used for what it was intended for." Alcohol to be used as a motor fuel would need to be about 95 percent pure. This would require extra distilla- tion. Underwood added, "The real utilization would be to .use the byproducts of such thingsas corn, potatoes and lumber." Sawdust could be used to heat the produclt on still and for making the product. Following Is some infor- mation in a recent bulletin from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food regar- ding farm scale production and use of fuel alcohol. On-farm production of alcohol can give some in- dependence from traditional fuel sources. Though not commercially available in Canada, engines that run on 100 percent alcohol or mix- tures of alcohol and water ("aquahol") are being developed. Some individuals have been successful at modifying gasoline and diesel engines to run- on various com- . binations of fuel (gasoline or diesel) , alcohol and water. Companies are developing conversion kits for existing engines. If it is economic to do so, youcan mix up to 10 percent (perhaps even 20 percent) of anhydrous (water -free) alcohol produc- ed on the farm with gasoline and use this in gasoline engines without major engine modification. The mixture ("gasohol") appears to cause no damage to the engine, although long- term effects are not precise- ly known. Alcohol can also provide a source of fuel to dry grain and to heat buildings, greenhouses, and water. However, it makes better sense to directly burn ' straw, stover or wood for such heating. Low-cost steel or fiberglass ` - rather than stainless steel may be used for some components of the alcohol production system to reduce capital costs. However, because of possi- ble hazards and rapid wear due to corrosion, stainless steel is recommended for most of the components, es- pecially the distillation ap- paratus. Many individuals will bc: capable of building some of the components themselves. Odor, clarity and the bitter taste of fusel oils (higher alcohols) are not concerns in fuel alcohol production. When practical, crop residues (straw, stover) .or wood may be used to fire a steam boiler for the dis- tillery. Unsold crop inventory, distressed grains and other . low -quality produce such as potato culls may be used to produce alcohol. On a cash crop/livestock farm, you may convert part of the crop to alcohol, and use the wet spent mash or stillage, that is high in pro- tein, as livestock feed. Cooperative development of a central alcohol produc- tion plant is a possible way to increase production and balance alcohol and feedstock supply versus alcohol demand, while lowering costs to individual producers. The cooperative or other business arrangement will let the producers hire a qualified person to operate the system, avoiding many, though not all, of the technical problems that will be encountered. An integrated approach might be to produce alcohol in association with a methane digester using livestock wastes. Methane could supply some of the energy needed by the digester and the cooking/distillation operations. However, farm - scale methane (or anaerobic)digestion has not yet proven profitable in Canada. Township hall holds a_rnaretirement birthday gifts. The latter part of the even- ing was spent playing cards. A coffee group for men began in the church base- ment last Thursday with a film and discussion. These "come as you are"gatherings will be held weekly until Feb. 19. The course for women "Face to Face with Ourselves" will be held on Tuesday afternoons at 1:30 beginning next Tuesday at the manse. All women are welcome. The flowers in the church on Sunday were from the funeral of Mrs. Volland. Sympathy was expressed to Louis and Beatrice Taylorand their family by their friends and neighbours. Our sympathy_ , also, to Eric and Sharon Chuter and - The family of Mrs. Grace Evans surprised her with a retirement party in the township hall in Varna on Saturday, Jan. 10. She was employed at Huronview for the past nine years. Members of her family were Varna by Mary Chemo! Petersburg, Ethel, Brussels and Varna for a dinner catered by Valma Millar of Seaforth. Grace was presented with a dozen red roses. , as well as money for a trip, which had been given to her at Christmas lime. She also recieved several family in the loss o Sharon's grandfather, Jacob Reder. Tom Consitt has returned from a nine -day holiday in the Roblin and Oxbow area of Manitoba. While there he visited his aunt, Mrs. Annie Johnston, who is spry and healthy at the age of ninety- two, and Mrs. Emma Cockerline, Albert and Margaret Manning and Helen Manning of Pilot Mound. Murvin and Ruth Johnston's grandson, Chris Proctor, holidayed with them last week. If you find it's more fun to do Yoga exercises in a group, you are invited to join June and Janet Webster on Monday evenings. These are not classes, just a get- together. If interested, give Janet a call. MR. AND MRS. TIM O'BRIEN Tim O'Brien and Gail Irvine were married at Hensall United Church in Hensall on November 19, 1980. The bride is the daughter of Glenn and Ruth Irvine of Exeter,ancl the groom's parents are Mary and Pat O'Brien of Hensall. The couple are residing on Main St., Exeter. IT'S A SMALL WORLD AT WALT DISNEY WORLD AND IT'S A SMALL WORLD IN EXETER TOO! BOOK YOUR FLORIDA VACATION NOW FOR Christmas - 1981-82 March Break - 1982-83 Our Junior Travel Advisors Say "Everyone Should See Disneyworld" Planning to visit Florida? call now and let us make your travel arrangements ANINIRS. DAVID BELL t! Mr Mr. an . avi were united in marriage at St. Boniface Church Zurich, Saturday, December 13. Mrs. Bell is the former Suzanne Rau, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Rau of Zurich. Dave is the son of Mrs. Louise Bell and Mr. Robert Bell of Cambridge. After a honeymoon to Quebec, they will be residing in Burlington, Ont. - Hotel Accommodations - Condominium Rentals - Bus tour holidays - Air flights - Package holidays - Information on Florida Tourist Attractions - Rent -a -car - Maps & guides