On America's New Energy Future

[speedy 0]

On America's New Energy Future

The World Health Organization estimates that 38.8 million Americans are now "obese" - i.e., 30 pounds or more overweight. That factors out to 583,000 tons of body fat. Since a kilogram of human fat contains 7,200 kilocalories of energy and a barrel of oil generates 1,410,579 kilocalories, Americans are hauling around (at minimum) the fat-equivalent of 2.92 million barrels of oil on their bodies.

If the concept of "flab gas" leaves you flabbergasted, prepare for a shock. Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital reportedly has signed a deal to supply Norwegian entrepreneur Lauri Venoy with 3,000 gallons-per-week of liposuction leftovers harvested by its clinics. This bio-fat could produce 2,600 gallons of biodiesel, sufficient to fuel a Hummer for a year.

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Dave

Fallschirmsport Marl

[VTmotoMike08 0]

Interesting. But at what cost can biofuels be made from human fat? Surely, there is significant processing (equivalent to refining) costs to this project, and nevermind the cost of those surgeries.

If I were a betting man, I would bet that it will still never be economical to make biofuel from human fat.

[billvon 3,085]

>But at what cost can biofuels be made from human fat?

Pretty easy actually. You use sodium methoxide to separate the lipids into glycerin and esters; the esters can be used as biodiesel. (Useless fact - this process was used in Fight Club to make soap and biodiesel, which then became the FO in the ANFO bombs used at the end.) You can also use a more complex process to convert it all to fuel without the extra glycerin.

[kelpdiver 2]

We'll finally start burning that fat when we have to walk everywhere after stalling on solving the consumption problem.

Each kg of fat will do about 100km in walking for an averaged size man.

[jcd11235 0]

Quote

We'll finally start burning that fat when we have to walk everywhere after stalling on solving the consumption problem.

Each kg of fat will do about 100km in walking for an averaged size man.

Of course, those with the most fuel will likely get the worst fuel economy.

Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

[SpeedRacer 1]

Some human beings emit a lot of methane. How about using that as a fuel?

Speed Racer
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[speedy 0]

Actually, I was think more along the lines of harvesting the american fat problem to solve the european energy crisis. I do live in Germany where the idea of recycling humans is not entirely new.

What do you think

Dave

Fallschirmsport Marl

[riddler 0]

Quote

Some human beings emit a lot of methane. How about using that as a fuel?

Not nearly as much as cattle - and it comes from the front-end, not the back. Enteric Fermentation is the third-leading contributor to methane-production from human-related activities, and accounts for 28% of the total.

So whatever you were planning to hook up to people's butts, you are better off putting it on a cow's face.

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[kelpdiver 2]

Due to the nature of walking/running, calories consumption per mile is very close to linear. If you're twice the weight, you burn twice the calories to move one mile or km, regardless of the speed.

So your statement is true for two people of the same base weight with differing levels of fuel.

But a lean 6'6" guy will still have lower economy than a fat 5'er.