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GlossaryACFM: Actual cubic feet per minute. The actual cubic feet per minute of gas flowing in a process at the temperature and pressure of the process at that point. Acid hydrolysis: A chemical process in which acid is used to convert cellulose or starch to sugar. Aerobic: Life or biological processes that can occur only in the presence of oxygen. Alcohol: A general class of hydrocarbons that contain a hydroxyl group (OH). The term "alcohol" is often used interchangeably with the term "ethanol," even though there are many types of alcohol. (See Butanol, Ethanol, Methanol.) Alkali: A soluble mineral salt. Alternative: Under the National Environmental Policy Act, a comprehensive management strategy. When a federal agency is considering an action, the agency must develop and analyze a range of alternatives. The alternatives must show a reasonable range of actions, including a "no action" alternative. Alternative fuel: As defined in the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT):
Any other fuel determed to be substantially not petroleum and yielding potential energy security benefits and substantial environmental benefits. Ambient air quality: The condition of the air in the surrounding environment. Barrel of oil equivalent: A unit of energy equal to the amount of energy contained in a barrel of crude oil. Approximately 5.78 million Btu or 1,700 kWh. A barrel is a liquid measure equal to 42 gallons. Benzene: A toxic, six-carbon aromatic component of gasoline. A known carcinogen. Biodegradable: Capable of decomposing rapidly under natural conditions. Biodiesel: A biofuel produced through transesterification, a process in which organically-derived oils are combined with alcohol (ethanol or methanol) in the presence of a catalyst to form ethyl or methyl ester. The biomass-derived ethyl or methyl esters can be blended with conventional diesel fuel or used as a neat fuel (100% biodiesel). Biodiesel can be made from soybean or rapeseed oils, animal fats, waste vegetable oils or microalgae oils. Bioenergy: Renewable energy produced from organic matter. The conversion of the complex carbohydrates in organic matter to energy. Organic matter may either be used directly as a fuel or processed into liquids or gases. Biofuels: Fuels made from biomass. Biofuels include ethanol, biodiesel and methanol. Biogas: A combustible gas derived from decomposing biological waste. Biogas normally consists of 50 to 60 percent methane. Biomass: Renewable organic matter such as agricultural crops and residue, wood and wood waste, animal waste, aquatic plants and organic components of municipal and industrial wastes. Biomass fuel: Liquid, solid or gaseous fuel produced by conversion of biomass. Bone dry: Having zero percent moisture content. Wood heated in an oven at a constant temperature of 212 degrees F or above until its weight stabilizes is considered bone dry or oven dry. Bone dry ton: (or " oven dry ton"). An amount of wood that weighs 2,000 pounds at zero percent moisture content. Bone dry unit: (BDU) A quantity of wood residue which weighs 2,400 pounds at zero percent moisture content. Bulk density: Weight per unit of volume, usually specified in pounds per cubic foot. Butane: A gas derived from natural gas. Used as a component of gasoline. Used in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for domestic and industrial applications. Butanol or butyl alcohol: An alcohol with the chemical formula CH3(CH2)3OH. It is formed during anaerobic fermentation using bacteria to convert the sugars to butanol and carbon dioxide. Capacity: The maximum power that a machine or system can produce or carry safely. The maximum instantaneous output of a resource under specified conditions. The capacity of generating equipment is generally expressed in kilowatts or megawatts. Capacity factor: The amount of energy that a power plant actually generates compared to its maxumum rated output, expressed as a percentage. Capital cost: The total investment needed to complete a project and bring it to a commercially operable status. The cost of construction of a new plant. The expenditures for the purchase or acquisition of existing facilities. Carbohydrate: A chemical compound made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Includes sugars, cellulose, and starches. Carbon Dioxide: (CO2) A product of combustion. The most common greenhouse gas. Carbon Monoxide: (CO) A colorless, odorless gas produced by incomplete combustion. Carbon monoxide is poisonous if inhaled. Carbon Sequestration: The absorption and storage of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Naturally-occurring in plants. Cellulase: Enzymes that act to degrade cellulose. Cellulases are produced commonly by fungal and microbial organisms. Cellulose: The main carbohydrate in living plants. Cellulose forms the skeletal structure of the plant cell wall. Cetane: Ignition performance rating of diesel fuel. cfm: Cubic feet per minute. Char: The remains of solid biomass that has been incompletely combusted, such as charcoal if wood is incompletely burned. Chemical oxygen demand: (COD) The amount of dissolved oxygen required to combine with chemicals in wastewater. A measure of the oxygen equivalent of that portion of organic matter that is susceptible to oxidation by a strong chemical oxidizing agent. Clean Air Act: (CAA) National law establishing ambient air quality emission standards to be implemented by participating states. Originally enacted in 1963, the CAA has been amended several times, most recently in 1990. The CAA includes vehicle emission standards regulating the emission of criteria pollutants (lead, ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter). The 1990 amendments added reformulated gasoline (RFG) requirements and oxygenated gasoline provisions. Deaeration: Removal of gases from a liquid. Decibels: (dBA) A scale to measure sound levels. Denatured: Ethanol that has had a substance added to make it unfit for human consumption. Diesel engine: A compression-ignition piston engine in which fuel is ignited by injecting it into air that has been heated (unlike a spark-ignition engine). Dioxin: A family of compounds, some of which are hazardous, that result from combustion of carbon materials. The most toxic of these compounds is 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Distillate oil: Any distilled product of crude oil. A light petroleum product used for home heating and most machinery. Distillation: The process to separate the components of a liquid mixture by boiling the liquid and then recondensing the resulting vapor. Distillers´ dried grains: (DDG) The dried byproduct of the grain fermentation process. Typically used as a high-protein animal feed. Dry Ton: 2,000 pounds of material dried to a constant weight. E85: A blend of 15 percent gasoline and 85 percent denatured ethanol by volume. Emissions: Waste substances released into the air or water. Energy: The ability to do work. Energy crops: Crops grown specifically for their fuel value. These include food crops such as corn and sugarcane and nonfood crops such as poplar trees and switchgrass. Currently, two energy crops are under development in the United States: short-rotation woody crops, which are fast-growing hardwood trees harvested in 5 to 8 years, and herbaceous energy crops, such as perennial grasses, which are harvested annually after taking 2 to 3 years to reach full productivity. Environment: The external conditions that affect organisms and influence their development and survival. Environmental assessment: (EA) A public document that analyzes a proposed federal action for the possibility of significant environmental impacts. The analysis is required by the National Environmental Policy Act. If the environmental impacts will be significant, the federal agency must then prepare an environmental impact statement. Environmental impact statement: (EIS) A statement of the environmental effects of a proposed action and of alternative actions. Section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act requires an EIS for all major federal actions. Ethanol: Ethyl alcohol produced by fermentation and distillation. An alcohol compound with the chemical formula CH3CH20H formed during sugar fermentation by yeast. Grain alcohol. Feedstock: Any material that can be converted to another form of fuel or energy product. Fermentation: The biological conversion of biomass by yeast or sugar. The products of fermentation are carbon dioxide and alcohol. Flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs): A vehicle with a single fuel tank designed to run on varying blends of unleaded gasoline with either ethanol or methanol. Fossil fuel: Solid, liquid or gaseous fuels formed in the ground after millions of years by chemical and physical changes in plant and animal residues under high temperature and pressure. Oil, natural gas and coal are fossil fuels. Fuel: Any material that can be converted to energy. Fuel cell: A device that converts the chemical energy of a fuel directly to electricity and heat, without combustion. Gas engine: A piston engine that uses gaseous fuel rather than gasoline. Fuel and air are mixed before they enter cylinders; ignition occurs with a spark. Gas turbine: (combustion turbine) A turbine that converts the energy of hot compressed gases (produced by burning fuel in compressed air) into mechanical power. Often fired by natural gas or fuel oil. Gasification: A chemical or heat process to convert a solid fuel to a gaseous form. Gasifier: A device for converting solid fuel into gaseous fuel. In biomass systems, the process is also referred to as pyrolitic distillation. See pyrolysis. Gasohol: A motor vehicle fuel which is a blend of 90 percent unleaded gasoline with 10 percent ethanol (by volume). This term was used in the late 1970s. Green ton: 2,000 pounds of undried biomass material. Moisture content must be specified if green tons are used as a measure of fuel energy. Greenhouse effect: A warming of the Earth and its atmosphere caused by greenhouse gases and water vapor trapping heat from the sun. Greenhouse gases: Gases that trap the heat of the sun in the Earth´s atmosphere, producing the greenhouse effect. The two major greenhouse gases are water vapor and carbon dioxide (CO2). Other greenhouse gases include methane, ozone, chlorofluorocarbons, and nitrous oxide. Horsepower: (electrical horsepower; hp) A unit for measuring the rate of mechanical energy output. The term is usually applied to engines or electric motors to describe maximum output. 1 hp = 745.7 Watts = 0.746 kW = 2,545 Btu/hr. Hybrid electric vehicle: A vehicle that is powered by two or more energy sources, one of which is electricity. Kilowatt: (kW) A measure of electrical power equal to 1,000 Watts. 1 kW = 3,413 Btu/hr = 1.341 horsepower. Kilowatt hour: (kWh) A measure of energy equivalent to the expenditure of one kilowatt for one hour. For example, 1 kWh will light a 100-watt light bulb for 10 hours. 1 kWh = 3,413 Btu. Landfill gas: Gas that is generated by decomposition of organic material at landfill disposal sites. Landfill gas is approximately 50 percent methane. Liquid hydrocarbon: One of a very large group of chemical compounds composed only of carbon and hydrogen. The largest source of hydrocarbons is petroleum. Liquefied natural gas: (LNG) Natural gas that has been condensed to a liquid by cooling the gas. Load factor: Load factor is the ratio of average demand to maximum demand or to capacity. Load: (1) The amount of electrical power required at a given point on a system. (2) The average demand on electrical equipment or on an electric system. Load management: Any method or device that evens out electric power demand by eliminating uses during peak periods or shifting usage from peak time to off-peak time. Management plan: A plan guiding overall management of an area administered by a federal or state agency. A management plan usually includes objectives, goals, standards and guidelines, management actions, and monitoring plans. Management activities: Planned activities initiated by land managers to meet the desired future condition for an area. Management activities may include thinning, timber harvest, prescribed burning, tree planting, and other activities. Methanol: Methyl alcohol having the chemical formula CH30H. Methanol is usually produced by chemical conversion at high temperatures and pressures. Wood alcohol. Although usually produced from natural gas, methanol can be produced from gasified biomass ( syngas). Methyl tertiary butyl ether: (MTBE) An ether manufactured by reacting methanol and isobutylene. MTBE has high octane and low volatility. Used as a fuel oxygenate. Metric ton: (or tonne) 1000 kilograms. 1 metric ton = 2,204.62 lb = 1.023 short tons. MGD: Million gallons per day. Micron: One thousandth of a millimeter. Mill: A tenth of a cent ($0.001). Mitigation: Steps taken to avoid or minimize negative environmental impacts. Mitigation can include: avoiding the impact by not taking a certain action; minimizing impacts by limiting the degree or magnitude of the action; rectifying the impact by repairing or restoring the affected environment; reducing the impact by protective steps required with the action; and compensating for the impact by replacing or providing substitute resources. National Environmental Policy Act: (NEPA) A federal law enacted in 1969 that requires all federal agencies to consider and analyze the environmental impacts of any proposed action. NEPA requires an environmental impact statement for major federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the environment. NEPA requires federal agencies to inform and involve the public in the agency´s decision making process and to consider the environmental impacts of the agency´s decision. Natural gas: A mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons, primarily methane, occurring naturally in the earth. Used as fuel. Neat fuel: Fuel that is free from admixture or dilution with other fuels. Octane enhancer: Any substance that is added to gasoline to increase octane. OEM: Original equipment manufacturer. Organic: Derived from living organisms. Organic compounds: Chemical compounds based on carbon chains or rings and also containing hydrogen, with or without oxygen, nitrogen, and other elements. Organic level: The amount of organic matter prescribed to be left after logging. Oxygenate: A gasoline fuel additive containing hydrogen, carbon and oxygen. The oxygen content promotes more complete combustion of gasoline, which reduces tailpipe emissions of carbon monoxide. Oxygenated gasoline: Gasoline containing an oxygenate. Ozone: Tropospheric ozone (ground-level ozone), or smog, is formed when volatile organic compounds, oxygen and nitrogen oxides react in the presence of sunlight. Ground-level ozone is a pollutant and a respiratory irritant. Stratospheric ozone occurs in the upper atmosphere an protects the earth from the sun´s ultraviolet rays. Particulate: A small, discrete mass of solid or liquid matter that remains individually dispersed in gas or liquid emissions. Particulates take the form of aerosol, dust, fume, mist, smoke or spray. Each of these forms has different properties. Particulate emissions: Fine liquid or solid particles discharged with exhaust gases. Usually measured as grains per cubic foot or pounds per million Btu input. Passive solar energy system: Solar heating or cooling that uses natural energy flows to transfer heat. pH: A measure of acidity or alkalinity. A pH of 7 represents neutrality. Acid substances have lower pH. Basic substances have higher pH. Rate schedule: A price list showing how the electric bill of a particular type of customer will be calculated by an electric utility company. Reformulated gasoline: (RFG) Gasoline that has altered composition or characteristics to reduce emissions of pollutants from vehicles in accordance with the Clean Air Act. Refuse-derived fuel: (RDF) Fuel prepared from municipal solid waste. Noncombustible materials such as rocks, glass, and metals are removed, and the remaining combustible portion of the solid waste is chopped or shredded. RDF facilities process between 100 and 3000 tons of MSW per day. Renewable energy source: An energy source that is replenished continuously in nature or that is replaced after use through natural means. Sustainable energy source. Renewable energy sources include the sun, the winds, flowing water, biomass and geothermal energy. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act: (RCRA) A federal law regulating solid and hazardous waste. RCRA governs the generation, storage, treatment, transport, and disposal of hazardous waste. Retrofitting: The application of conservation, efficiency, or renewable energy technologies to existing structures. Return on investment: (ROI) The interest rate at which the net present value of a project is zero. Multiple values are possible. SCF: Standard cubic foot. SCFM: Standard cubic foot per minute. Short ton: 2000 pounds. A ton, as commonly used in the U.S. and Canada. Smog: A visible haze caused by particulate matter and ground-level ozone. Source Emission Reduction Plan: (SERP) A contingency plan developed to reduce emissions during an air quality emergency. Steam conversion factors: (approximations) Therm: A unit of energy equal to 100,000 British thermal units; used primarily for natural gas. Thermal resource: A facility that produces electricity by using a heat engine to power an electric generator. The heat may be supplied by the combustion of coal, oil, natural gas, biomass, or other fuels, including nuclear fission, solar, or geothermal resources. Volatility: The tendency of a liquid to pass into the vapor state at a given temperature. Vapor pressure. Watt: The common base unit of power in the metric system. One watt equals one joule per second. It is the power developed in a circuit by a current of one ampere flowing through a potential difference of one volt. One Watt = 3.413 Btu/hr.
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