Page 62 - ENGINEERING REVIEW APRIL 2022 DIGITAL MAGAZINE

INDUSTRY FOCUS
#ETHANOL SUPPLY

and stainless steel will prevent the documentation of experiences and Excel Engineering, Alpha Level etc.
spreading of flames in the case of a research works in progress [4]. to meet this national objective. Indian
standard structural conflagration. The conversation around the ideal stainless-steel producers are capable
Apart from the general benefits of container for ethanol still continues and committed to meet the growing
using stainless steel, the successful today: In a recent webinar conducted by requirement of ethanol industry.
impact really depends on the type of ISSDA on ‘Stainless Steel for building However, Government policy support
project it is used for. For example, tanks Ethanol supply Chain’ in association in terms of ensuring a level playing field
for food-grade ethanol are constructed with Nickel Institute, the expert with respect to dumped and subsidised
using type 304(L) of stainless steel speakers pointed out that stainless steel import of stainless steel is also crucial
whereas very large tanks with heavy is in fact used extensively for Ethanol to enable further investment, so that
plates would use a high strength sector in North America and Brazil, such critical requirements are met by
lean-duplex grade such as S32101 [2]. who are the world leaders in blending domestically produced stainless steel
Type 304(L) is usually used in the more Ethanol in motor fuel. (The Nickle only.
alkaline operating media of biodiesel Institute, an international non-profit
processes, such as piping and tubing industry association was established Bibliography:
systems. Type 316(L) is used in places for the purpose of offering guidance [1] Aayog, N.I.T.I., 2021. Committee
where the acid content is greater and and neutral technological advice reports: Report of NITI Aayog on
the temperature is more extreme. regarding stainless steel applications). Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India
To summarize, the type of Stainless International Energy Agency (IEA) 2020-25. PRS Legislative Research.
Steel normally required for Ethanol has said that India is set to overtake https://prsindia.org/policy/report-
Projects is generally within grades of China to become third largest Ethanol summaries/report-of-niti-aayog-on-
304/316 and used in shell material consumer by 2026, next only to Brazil roadmap-for-ethanol-blending-in-india-
for distillation columns, shell material and USA. 2020-25#:~:text=The%20NITI%20
for heat exchangers, fermenters and The Government has plan to even Aayog%20released%20a,country%20
other process tanks, storage tanks, go beyond E20 fuel and working wide%20marketing%20of%20ethanol
pipes and fittings, plates, tubes for heat with automakers to develop flexi fuel
exchangers, dryer and other equipment engines which can use a range of fuel [2] Stainless steels cost-efficient
and Ethanol tankers. A typical stainless- blends going up to 100% Ethanol, Materials for Bio Fuel Energy, Kristina
steel requirement for a 500 kilo litres like in Brazil. In any case, whether the Osterman, Nickel institute. https://
per day Ethanol plant is about 1300 auto industry in India can successfully nickelinstitute.org/media/1610/10090_
tons. In line with the national priorities, shift from petroleum to flexi fuels stainlesssteels cost effective materials
stainless steel industry has geared up will depend entirely on what steps fortheglobalbiofuelsindustries.pdf
to meet this demand, with supplies are taken to build and augment the
expected to double this year. ethanol supply chain down the line [3] First Generation Ethanol Blended
to ensure wider availability. In this Petrol (EBP), programme. NACE
What’s the technical opinion of context, Stainless Steel is considered International, 2013. ScienceDaily.
stainless steel as the ideal material critical for the ethanol eco-system for {Accessed December 10, 2021}
choice for ethanol? blending in motor fuel across the entire http://petroleum.nic.in/sites/default/
Using the wrong container for ethanol supply chain. It is estimated that about files/biofuels.pdf
has been a recurring concern at a global 1,00,000 tons of high-grade stainless
scale since the early 1990s: Research steel will be required to augment [4] Structural Integrity of Materials in
carried out by the American Petroleum ethanol capacity for achieving national Fuel Ethanol Environments, September
Institute (API) has shown that Stress goal of 20% blending. The potential 2019, DOI:10.5772/intechopen.86383
Corrosion Cracking (SCC) of steel in is even higher when flexi fuel engines https://www.researchgate.net/
fuel ethanol environment is a subject are introduced. Indian stainless-steel publication/335777533_Structural_
matter where awareness of the issue producers have already stepped-up Integrity_of_Materials_in_Fuel_Ethanol_
is growing dynamically as a result of supplies to OEMs like Praj Industries, Environments.

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