SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Engine”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,045 records · Page 58

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

DOE OSTI2021

Techno‐economic feasibility analysis of engineered energycane‐based biorefinery co‐producing biodiesel and ethanol

Abstract High feedstock cost and low oil yields per unit of land from temperate oilseed crops limit the growth of commercial‐scale biodiesel production. Recently, highly productive crops, such as sugarcane and energycane, have been engineered to accumulate triacylglycerides (TAGs) that allow the production of far more industrial vegetable oil than previously possible. A proof‐of‐concept suggests that biodiesel production from engineered energycane will be possible. However, before making efforts for scale‐up, it is critical to understand the commercial feasibility and economic competitiveness of this process. This study performs techno‐economic analysis of a unique biorefinery processing energycane to co‐produce biodiesel and ethanol. Comprehensive process simulation models were developed for two scenarios: (i) biodiesel from TAGs and ethanol from fermentation of sugars in juice and (ii) biodiesel from TAGs and ethanol from fermentation of sugars in juice and hydrolysis of carbohydrates in bagasse. Based on the target levels, the analysis was performed for energycane containing 0%, 5%, and 7.7% TAGs (d.b.). The biodiesel from engineered energycane was found economically viable and competitive to soybean biodiesel. Although the capital investment is higher compared to the soybean biodiesel plant, the biodiesel production costs ($0.66–$0.9/L) were lower than soybean biodiesel ($0.91/L). Biorefinery‐scenario‐1 processing energycane containing 7.7% TAG produces biodiesel with profitability (IRR 7.84) slightly lower than soybean biodiesel (IRR 8.3), but yields five times of biodiesel per unit land and is self‐sustainable for energy requirements. The surplus electricity can displace fossil electricity and provide environmental benefits. Monte Carlo simulation indicated that biorefinery is profitable with a 29%–65% probability (NPV > 0) which is largely controlled by feedstock composition and biodiesel market price. It is important to note that energycane can be grown on the marginal rainfed lands in S.E. USA, where soybean would not be viable. Biodiesel from engineered energycane would therefore be complementary to soydiesel in the United States.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2016

Terpene metabolic engineering via nuclear or chloroplast genomes profoundly and globally impacts off‐target pathways through metabolite signalling

Summary The impact of metabolic engineering on nontarget pathways and outcomes of metabolic engineering from different genomes are poorly understood questions. Therefore, squalene biosynthesis genes FARNESYL DIPHOSPHATE SYNTHASE ( FPS ) and SQUALENE SYNTHASE ( SQS ) were engineered via the Nicotiana tabacum chloroplast (C), nuclear (N) or both ( CN ) genomes to promote squalene biosynthesis. SQS levels were ~4300‐fold higher in C and CN lines than in N, but all accumulated ~150‐fold higher squalene due to substrate or storage limitations. Abnormal leaf and flower phenotypes, including lower pollen production and reduced fertility, were observed regardless of the compartment or level of transgene expression. Substantial changes in metabolomes of all lines were observed: levels of 65–120 unrelated metabolites, including the toxic alkaloid nicotine, changed by as much as 32‐fold. Profound effects of transgenesis on nontarget gene expression included changes in the abundance of 19 076 transcripts by up to 2000‐fold in CN ; 7784 transcripts by up to 1400‐fold in N; and 5224 transcripts by as much as 2200‐fold in C. Transporter‐related transcripts were induced, and cell cycle‐associated transcripts were disproportionally repressed in all three lines. Transcriptome changes were validated by qRT ‐ PCR . The mechanism underlying these large changes likely involves metabolite‐mediated anterograde and/or retrograde signalling irrespective of the level of transgene expression or end product, due to imbalance of metabolic pools, offering new insight into both anticipated and unanticipated consequences of metabolic engineering.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2021

Mini‐synplastomes for plastid genetic engineering

Summary In the age of synthetic biology, plastid engineering requires a nimble platform to introduce novel synthetic circuits in plants. While effective for integrating relatively small constructs into the plastome, plastid engineering via homologous recombination of transgenes is over 30 years old. Here we show the design–build–test of a novel synthetic genome structure that does not disturb the native plastome: the ‘mini‐synplastome’. The mini‐synplastome was inspired by dinoflagellate plastome organization, which is comprised of numerous minicircles residing in the plastid instead of a single organellar genome molecule. The first mini‐synplastome in plants was developed in vitro to meet the following criteria: (i) episomal replication in plastids; (ii) facile cloning; (iii) predictable transgene expression in plastids; (iv) non‐integration of vector sequences into the endogenous plastome; and (v) autonomous persistence in the plant over generations in the absence of exogenous selection pressure. Mini‐synplastomes are anticipated to revolutionize chloroplast biotechnology, enable facile marker‐free plastid engineering, and provide an unparalleled platform for one‐step metabolic engineering in plants.

Occhialini, Alessandro↗

DOE OSTI2015

Effect of Premixed Fuel Preparation for Partially Premixed Combustion with a Low Octane Gasoline on a Light-Duty Multi-Cylinder Compression Ignition Engine

Gasoline compression ignition concepts with the majority of the fuel being introduced early in the cycle are known as partially premixed combustion (PPC). Previous research on single- and multi-cylinder engines has shown that PPC has the potential for high thermal efficiency with low NOx and soot emissions. A variety of fuel injection strategies has been proposed in the literature. These injection strategies aim to create a partially stratified charge to simultaneously reduce NOx and soot emissions while maintaining some level of control over the combustion process through the fuel delivery system. The impact of the direct injection strategy to create a premixed charge of fuel and air has not previously been explored, and its impact on engine efficiency and emissions is not well understood. This paper explores the effect of sweeping the direct injected pilot timing from -91° to -324° ATDC, which is just after the exhaust valve closes for the engine used in this study. During the sweep, the pilot injection consistently contained 65% of the total fuel (based on command duration ratio), and the main injection timing was adjusted slightly to maintain combustion phasing near top dead center. A modern four cylinder, 1.9 L diesel engine with a variable geometry turbocharger, high pressure common rail injection system, wide included angle injectors, and variable swirl actuation was used in this study. The pistons were modified to an open bowl configuration suitable for highly premixed combustion modes. The stock diesel injection system was unmodified, and the gasoline fuel was doped with a lubricity additive to protect the high pressure fuel pump and the injectors. The study was conducted at a fixed speed/load condition of 2000 rpm and 4.0 bar brake mean effective pressure (BMEP). The pilot injection timing sweep was conducted at different intake manifold pressures, swirl levels, and fuel injection GTP-15-1067, Dempsey 2 pressures. The gasoline used in this study has relatively high fuel reactivity with a research octane number of 68. The results of this experimental campaign indicate that the highest brake thermal efficiency and lowest emissions are achieved simultaneously with the earliest pilot injection timings (i.e., during the intake stroke).

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

DOE OSTI2015

Performance and Emission Investigations of Jatropha and Karanja Biodiesels in a Single-Cylinder Compression-Ignition Engine Using Endoscopic Imaging

Biofuels produced from non-edible sources that are cultivated on marginal lands represent a viable source of renewable and carbon-neutral energy. In this context, biodiesel obtained from Jatropha and Karanja oil seeds have received significant interest, especially in South Asian subcontinent. Both of these fuels are produced from non-edible plant seeds with high oil content, which can be grown on marginal lands. In this research, we have investigated the performance and emission characteristics of Jatropha and Karanja methyl esters (biodiesel) and their blends with diesel. Another objective is to examine the effect of long-term storage on biodiesel’s oxidative stability. The biodiesels were produced at Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, (IIT Kanpur), India, and the engine experiments were performed in a single cylinder, 4-stroke, compression ignition engine at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Chicago. An endoscope was used to visualize in-cylinder combustion events and examine the soot distribution. The effects of fuel and start of injection (SOI) on engine performance and emissions were investigated. Results indicated that ignition delay was shorter with biodiesel. Consequently the cylinder pressure and premixed heat release were higher for diesel compared to biodiesel. Engine performance data for biodiesel (J100, K100) and biodiesel blends (J30, K30) showed an increase in break thermal efficiency (BTE) (10.9%, 7.6% for biodiesel and blend, respectively), BSFC (13.1% and 5.6%), and NOx emission (9.8% and 12.9%), and a reduction in BSHC (8.64% and 12.9%), and BSCO (15.56% and 4.0%). The soot analysis from optical images qualitatively showed that biodiesel and blends produced less soot compared to diesel. The temperature profiles obtained from optical imaging further supported higher NOx in biodiesels and their blends compared to diesel. Additionally, the data indicated that retarding the injection timing leads to higher BSFC, but lower flame temperatures and NOx levels along with higher soot formation for all test fuels. The physicochemical properties such as fatty acid profile, cetane number, and oxygen content in biodiesels support the observed combustion and emission characteristics of the fuels tested in this study. Finally, the effect of long-term storage is found to increase the glycerol content, acid value and cetane number of the two biodiesels, indicating some oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids in the fuels.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Investigating the Combustion Performance of Dual Fuel Combustion with Diesel and Port Injected Hydrogen in a Large Bore Locomotive Engine

The heavy-duty transportation sector has primarily relied on conventional diesel combustion engines given their reliability and high thermal efficiency relative to spark ignition engines, but increased focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions has led to investigation into alternative fuels. Gaseous hydrogen fuel has garnered a great deal of recent interest in the engine community given it has zero carbon, but hydrogen is not available at the scale and cost that petroleum fuels are currently available, and this is a barrier to adoption for industries that are looking to decarbonize their operations. Because of the fuel flexibility provided, dual fuel technology offers a pathway for some industries to adopt hydrogen as a fuel source while maintaining sufficient flexibility in times and locations where the new fuel is not yet available. This computational study investigates dual fuel combustion in a large bore locomotive engine architecture using direct injected diesel and port injected gaseous hydrogen fuel. With an optimal port fuel injection configuration from previous work, simulations of varying substitution ratio, compression ratio, manifold air temperature, diesel injection timing, and diesel injection pressure were performed to understand their effect on combustion performance. Results indicated that both increased substitution ratio and higher intake air temperature accelerates hydrogen flame propagation and can result in high peak cylinder pressures. Additionally, diesel injection timing and injection pressure were demonstrated as effective methods for controlling dual fuel combustion heat release rates.

ODonnell, Patrick Christopher↗

DOE OSTI2012

Monte Carlo-based treatment planning system calculation engine for microbeam radiation therapy

Purpose: Microbeam radiation therapy (MRT) is a synchrotron radiotherapy technique that explores the limits of the dose-volume effect. Preclinical studies have shown that MRT irradiations (arrays of 25-75-{mu}m-wide microbeams spaced by 200-400 {mu}m) are able to eradicate highly aggressive animal tumor models while healthy tissue is preserved. These promising results have provided the basis for the forthcoming clinical trials at the ID17 Biomedical Beamline of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF). The first step includes irradiation of pets (cats and dogs) as a milestone before treatment of human patients. Within this context, accurate dose calculations are required. The distinct features of both beam generation and irradiation geometry in MRT with respect to conventional techniques require the development of a specific MRT treatment planning system (TPS). In particular, a Monte Carlo (MC)-based calculation engine for the MRT TPS has been developed in this work. Experimental verification in heterogeneous phantoms and optimization of the computation time have also been performed. Methods: The penelope/penEasy MC code was used to compute dose distributions from a realistic beam source model. Experimental verification was carried out by means of radiochromic films placed within heterogeneous slab-phantoms. Once validation was completed, dose computations in a virtual model of a patient, reconstructed from computed tomography (CT) images, were performed. To this end, decoupling of the CT image voxel grid (a few cubic millimeter volume) to the dose bin grid, which has micrometer dimensions in the transversal direction of the microbeams, was performed. Optimization of the simulation parameters, the use of variance-reduction (VR) techniques, and other methods, such as the parallelization of the simulations, were applied in order to speed up the dose computation. Results: Good agreement between MC simulations and experimental results was achieved, even at the interfaces between two different media. Optimization of the simulation parameters and the use of VR techniques saved a significant amount of computation time. Finally, parallelization of the simulations improved even further the calculation time, which reached 1 day for a typical irradiation case envisaged in the forthcoming clinical trials in MRT. An example of MRT treatment in a dog's head is presented, showing the performance of the calculation engine. Conclusions: The development of the first MC-based calculation engine for the future TPS devoted to MRT has been accomplished. This will constitute an essential tool for the future clinical trials on pets at the ESRF. The MC engine is able to calculate dose distributions in micrometer-sized bins in complex voxelized CT structures in a reasonable amount of time. Minimization of the computation time by using several approaches has led to timings that are adequate for pet radiotherapy at synchrotron facilities. The next step will consist in its integration into a user-friendly graphical front-end.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

DOE OSTI2025

Wide-ranging predictions of new stable compounds powered by recommendation engines

The computational search for new stable inorganic compounds is faster than ever, thanks to high-throughput density functional theory (DFT). However, stable compound searches remain highly expensive because of the enormous search space and the cost of DFT calculations. To aid these searches, recommendation engines have been developed. We conduct a systematic comparison of the performance of previously developed recommendation engines, specifically ones based on elemental substitution, data mining, and neural network prediction of formation enthalpy. After identifying ways to improve the recommendation engines, we find the neural network to be superior at recommending stable Heusler compounds. Armed with improved recommendation engines, we identify tens of thousands of compounds that are stable at zero temperature and pressure, now available in the Open Quantum Materials Database. We summarize this diverse pool of compounds, including the elusive mixed anion compounds, and two of their many applications: thermoelectricity and solar thermochemical fuel production.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗

DOE OSTI2025

Engineering the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus for 1-propanol production

ABSTRACT Society relies heavily on chemicals traditionally produced through the refinement of fossil fuels. The conversion of renewable biomass to value-added chemicals by microbes, particularly hyperthermophiles (T opt ≥80°C), offers a renewable alternative to this traditional approach. Herein, we describe the engineering of the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus , which grows optimally (T opt ) at 100°C, for the conversion of sugar to 1-propanol. This was accomplished by constructing a hybrid metabolic pathway consisting of two native and seven heterologously produced enzymes to convert acetyl-CoA from carbohydrate metabolism to 1-propanol. A total of eleven foreign genes from two other organisms were utilized, one from the thermophilic bacterium Thermoanaerobacter sp. strain X514 and 10 from the thermoacidophilic archaeon Metallosphaera sedula, both of which grow optimally near 70°C. The recombinant P. furiosus strain produced 1-propanol at similar concentrations (up to ~1 mM) when incubated at 75°C to activate the gene products of Thermoanaerobacter sp. strain X514 and M. sedula and by initially incubating at 95°C for P. furiosus growth and then subsequently returning to 75°C to promote 1-propanol formation. Note that 1-propanol was not produced if the culture was grown only at 95°C. This work has the potential for future optimization through harnessing the genome-scale metabolic model of P. furiosus that was used herein to identify engineering targets to increase 1-propanol titer. IMPORTANCE As petroleum reserves become increasingly strained, the development of renewable alternatives to traditional chemical synthesis becomes more important. In this work, a high-temperature biological system for sugar to 1-propanol conversion was demonstrated by metabolic engineering of the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus (T opt 100°C). The engineered strain produced 1-propanol by temperature shifting from 75°C to 95°C and then back to 75°C to accommodate the temperature ranges for native and foreign proteins associated with 1-propanol biosynthesis. Genome-scale metabolic modeling informed the carbon and reductant flux in the system, identified potential factors limiting 1-propanol production, and revealed potential optimization targets.

O'Quinn, Hailey C. (ORCID:0009000274865755)↗

DOE OSTI2018

Engineering Kluyveromyces marxianus as a Robust Synthetic Biology Platform Host

Throughout history, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has played a central role in human society due to its use in food production and more recently as a major industrial and model microorganism, because of the many genetic and genomic tools available to probe its biology. However, S. cerevisiae has proven difficult to engineer to expand the carbon sources it can utilize, the products it can make, and the harsh conditions it can tolerate in industrial applications. Other yeasts that could solve many of these problems remain difficult to manipulate genetically. Here, we engineered the thermotolerant yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus to create a new synthetic biology platform. Using CRISPR-Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats with Cas9)-mediated genome editing, we show that wild isolates of K. marxianus can be made heterothallic for sexual crossing. By breeding two of these mating-type engineered K. marxianus strains, we combined three complex traits—thermotolerance, lipid production, and facile transformation with exogenous DNA—into a single host. The ability to cross K. marxianus strains with relative ease, together with CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, should enable engineering of K. marxianus isolates with promising lipid production at temperatures far exceeding those of other fungi under development for industrial applications. These results establish K. marxianus as a synthetic biology platform comparable to S. cerevisiae, with naturally more robust traits that hold potential for the industrial production of renewable chemicals.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2024

Multiplayer Engineering

INL engineers developed a special purpose software framework designed to establish real-time connections between multiple running Unity instances. The framework is developed in Unity, a game engine development platform. This framework programmatically attaches functions to engineering models, enabling users to interact with, observe, and make changes to virtual models. These interactions are broadcasted through websocket connections, and received by other engineers in real-time.

Woodruff, Nathan↗

DOE OSTI2019

Effect of engine conditions and injection timing on piston-top fuel films for stratified direct-injection spark-ignition operation using E30

Mid-level ethanol/gasoline blends can provide knock resistance benefits for stoichiometric spark-ignition engine operation, but previous studies have identified challenges associated with spray impingement and wall wetting, leading to excessive particulate matter emissions. At the same time, stratified-charge spark-ignition operation can provide increased thermal efficiency, but care has to be exercised to avoid excessive in-cylinder soot formation. In support of the use of mid-level ethanol/gasoline blends in advanced spark-ignition engines, this study presents spray and fuel-film measurements in a direct-injection spark-ignition engine operated with a 30 vol.%/70 vol.% ethanol/gasoline blend (E30). Crank-angle resolved fuel-film measurements at the piston surface are conducted using two different implementations of the refractive index matching technique. A small-angle refractive index matching implementation allows quantification of the wetted area, while a large-angle refractive index matching implementation enables semi-quantitative measurements of fuel-film thickness and volume, in addition to fuel-film area. The fuel-film measurements show that both the amount of fuel deposited on the piston and the shape of the fuel-film patterns are strongly influenced by the injection timing, duration, intake pressure, and coolant temperature. For combinations of high in-cylinder gas density and long injection duration, merging of the individual spray plumes, commonly referred to as spray collapse, can cause a dramatic change to the shape and thickness of the wall fuel films. Overall, the study provides guidance to engine designers aiming at minimizing wall wetting through tailored combinations of injection timings and durations.

Ding, Carl-Philipp↗

DOE OSTI2022

Investigation of the effects of passive pre-chamber nozzle pattern and ignition system on engine performance and emissions

The impact of passive pre-chamber (PC) internal volume, nozzle hole pattern (i.e. with and without a central axial nozzle), and PC igniter plug type on performance and emissions was investigated in an optically accessible, single-cylinder, gasoline research engine. The two PC igniter plugs investigated were a conventional inductive coil spark plug and a nanosecond repetitively pulsed (NRP) plasma discharge system previously demonstrated to accelerate early flame propagation. The baseline PC design featured a funnel shaped internal volume with a PC tip that contained six radial nozzles and a larger central axial nozzle. Two additional PC tip geometries were evaluated where either the baseline internal volume was increased or the axial nozzle was removed and the radial nozzle diameters were increased. A sweep of charge equivalence ratios ( ϕ) from nearly stoichiometric to the lean limit was performed for a fixed engine speed (1300 revolutions per minute), and engine load (3.5 bar gross indicated mean effective pressure). Time-resolved PC and main chamber (MC) pressure data as well as MC emissions data were collected to analyze engine performance and emissions characteristics. Combustion in the MC was further investigated using high-speed excited methylidyne radical (CH*) chemiluminescence imaging. Collected results highlighted that while all PC tips and ignition systems exhibited similar performance and emissions down to ϕ = 0.8, relevant differences in thermal efficiency and emissions for leaner charge mixtures were observed, with the results highly dependent on the nozzle pattern and ignition system. Major deviations were correlated to preferential de-pressurization of the PC through the axial nozzle for lean conditions that was not observed for mixture conditions closer to stoichiometric. Results show that a combination of radial and axial nozzle patterns in the PC extended lean-stability limits at the low-load condition evaluated. Further benefits were observed with the use of NRP ignition systems due to faster combustion within the PC volume provided that the volume was sufficiently large.

Di Sabatino, Francesco↗

DOE OSTI2015

Natural Gas Engine Performance Ignited by a Passively Q-Switched Microlaser

A robust end pumped, passively Q-switched, air-cooled, microlaser was designed and prototyped to yield a 1064 nm pulsed laser output of 21 mJ/P with a pulse width of 4.2 ns FWHM. This microlaser was coupled to a standard laser plug carrying a sapphire lens with 13 mm back focal length. This assembly was tested in a natural gas fueled single-cylinder engine, and in one cylinder of a turbocharged 6-cylinder engine. Single cylinder engine tests showed extension of the lean ignition limit which enabled an efficiency improvement of 0.2% while meeting emission regulations. The tests conducted in the 6-cylinder engine showed highly improved ignition stability.

Laser Ignition↗

DOE OSTI2018

ProtDataTherm: A database for thermostability analysis and engineering of proteins

Protein thermostability engineering is a powerful tool to improve resistance of proteins against high temperatures and thereafter broaden their applications. For efficient protein thermostability engineering, different thermostability-classified data sources including sequences and 3D structures are needed for different protein families. However, no data source is available providing such data easily. It is the first release of ProtDataTherm database for analysis and engineering of protein thermostability which contains more than 14 million protein sequences categorized based on their thermal stability and protein family. This database contains data needed for better understanding protein thermostability and stability engineering. Providing categorized protein sequences and structures as psychrophilic, mesophilic and thermophilic makes this database useful for the development of new tools in protein stability prediction. This database is available at http://profiles.bs.ipm.ir/ softwares/protdatatherm. As a proof of concept, the thermostability that improves mutations were suggested for one sample protein belonging to one of protein families with more than 20 mesophilic and thermophilic sequences and with known experimentally measured ΔT of mutations available within ProTherm database.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2013

PBX 9502 Literature Review: An Engineering Perspective

Engineering analysis for the stockpile systems requires that materials used in the stockpile be characterized properly. One of these materials is PBX 9502, an insensitive high explosive (IHE). The Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is working to improve its engineering material modeling capability for PBX 9502.This effort includes the development of requirements for an engineering material model (or models), review of material models currently used for engineering simulations, and review of currently available thermal-mechanical test data. The information obtained will either help to enhance the existing models or help the development and implementation of a new model or models. This document summarizes a review of literature on PBX 9502 that was performed over the past several months. The review was focused primarily on literature dealing with the characterization of PBX 9502 from a thermo-mechanical standpoint. Literature dealing with the formulation, explosive performance, and sensitivity was not included in this report. It should be noted that, like most research of this nature, this literature review is not intended to be all-inclusive. However, it provides a detailed baseline of the information that is available and will be very useful to those seeking to expand the PBX 9502 knowledge base.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗

DOE OSTI2012

PHEV Engine Control and Energy Management Strategy (FY12 Annual Report)

Our objective was to investigate novel engine control strategies targeted at rapid engine/catalyst warming for the purpose of mitigating tailpipe emissions from plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) exposed to multiple engine cold start events, and to validate and optimize hybrid supervisory control techniques developed during previous and on-going research projects by integrating them into the vehicle level control system and complementing them with the modified engine control strategies in order to further reduce emissions during both cold start and engine re-starts.

Chambon, Paul H.↗

DOE OSTI2013

Genetic engineering of cyanobacteria as biodiesel feedstock.

Algal biofuels are a renewable energy source with the potential to replace conventional petroleum-based fuels, while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The economic feasibility of commercial algal fuel production, however, is limited by low productivity of the natural algal strains. The project described in this SAND report addresses this low algal productivity by genetically engineering cyanobacteria (i.e. blue-green algae) to produce free fatty acids as fuel precursors. The engineered strains were characterized using Sandia s unique imaging capabilities along with cutting-edge RNA-seq technology. These tools are applied to identify additional genetic targets for improving fuel production in cyanobacteria. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates successful fuel production from engineered cyanobacteria, identifies potential limitations, and investigates several strategies to overcome these limitations. This project was funded from FY10-FY13 through the President Harry S. Truman Fellowship in National Security Science and Engineering, a program sponsored by the LDRD office at Sandia National Laboratories.

Ruffing, Anne.↗