The eLearning Center for B.F. Environmental Consultants, Inc.

Overview

Biorefinery technology can improve the income of firms that produce energy products combined with biobased coproducts. They do this by producing a variety of high value products in addition to the typically low value fuels. The biomass feedstocks evaluated in this report are lipids from animal fats, fish and poultry oils, plant oils, and recycled cooking greases. Higher rates of return attract investors and lead to expanded capacity. Profits generated by the biobased fuels may encourage more investment, more facilities, and eventually a larger biofuel supply. Thus, biomass biorefineries need biobased coproducts to succeed in the fuels industry.

In this course the student will learn about biomass oils and distillate fuel use opportunities, production, composition, supply and biorefinery methods. The student will learn of the business advantages of using alternate fuels such as biomass fuels to improve the bottom line.

The student is expected to read and review the material contained in Biomass Oil Analysis: Research Needs and Recommendations, NREL - Contract No. DE-AC36-99-GO10337, June 2004 - NREL/TP-510-34796.

The student must take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of forty (40) questions at the end of this course to obtain PDH credits.

Specific Knowledge or Skill Attained

This course will review the basic operation, limitations, capacities and design of the following solar generating systems:

  · Biomass Oil and Distillate Fuels
  · Distillate Applications, Standards and Grades
  · Fuel Economy
  · Biomass Oil Composition
  · Heating Oil Blends With Biodiesel
  · Converting Biomass Oils to Hydrocarbon Fuels
  · Biomass Oil Supply and Production
  · Current Biomass Oil Supply
  · Near and Long Term Expansion Potential
  · Ultimate Supply Potential
  · Production of Biomass Oils and Fuels
  · Biorefinery Opportunities

State Board Acceptance

This course can be used by professional engineers to fulfill PDH requirements mandated by state and provincial licensing boards. Decatur Professional Development is an approved provider of continuing education in all states that pre-approve course providers. In all other states that mandate continuing education for engineers, it is the individual engineer's responsibility to determine the suitability of activities for PDH credit. The state boards typically accept online* courses that cover technical, managerial** or ethical content and which are relevant to the practice of engineering. The course must have a clear purpose or objective with a content that will maintain, improve or expand the skills and knowledge of the licensee's field of practice. For questions about your mandatory PDH requirements, visit the website of your state licensing board.

*Online courses are accepted by all state licensing boards that mandate continuing education. Other than New York (which limits online courses to 18 PDH) and Iowa (which limits online courses to 6 PDH), there are no limits placed by other states on the number of hours that can be earned through online continuing education. Consult with your state licensing board if you have any questions about the acceptability of online courses.

**The New York State Board of Engineers does not accept general office management courses, but will accept project management courses that are offered by an approved provider and that are technical in nature and contribute to the engineer's professional practice.

Please Note: Continuing Education credits for this course are awarded as PDH (Professional Development Hour Credits).