IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BlueFire Ethanol Fuels, Inc. (OTC:
BFRE.OB - News), a leader in cellulosic ethanol production
technology, has engaged Roeslein Associates, Inc. and PAC (Process
Automation Concepts, Ltd.) to begin prefabricating modules for
BlueFire’s first ethanol bio-refinery in Lancaster, Calif.
The Lancaster biorefinery will use post-sorted cellulosic wastes
diverted from landfills in Southern California to produce a
highly-economical alternative biofuel. BlueFire is in the process
of obtaining the final permits to commence construction on the
secured site, which is expected to produce 3.1 million gallons of
cellulosic ethanol annually.
“Prefabrication and modular construction has proven itself time and
again to be the best method for maintaining quality, controlling
costs and creating the fastest to-market time for the deployment of
complex facilities,” said Arnold Klann, President and CEO of
BlueFire. “This approach also allows us to potentially sell our
facilities as a turn-key manufactured product, leveraging our
capabilities and expand our market reach several fold.”
Roeslein was selected as one of the world’s leading firms in the
modularization, unitization and pre-assembly of specialized plant
facilities. Manufacturing facilities typically have a sequence of
production equipment or systems, all of which are interconnected by
conveyors, mechanical piping/ducting, electrical wiring and access
walkways. Using a proprietary unitizing process, Roeslein
integrates all of these systems into free-standing steel
structures.
The units are completely pre-assembled, enabling pre-testing and
functionality checks before shipping to the final plant site. Unit
sections are then broken down and transported on flatbed trailers
or overseas shipping containers with all of the pre-assembled
conveyance, piping, ductwork and electrical components intact. The
unit section legs, ladders, stairs and miscellaneous components are
also packed into the same container, so that everything needed for
final re-assembly is kept together. Final installation at the plant
location is accomplished at an accelerated rate as compared to
conventional installations, and many common and costly construction
issues are avoided.
In addition to advancing its domestic plans, BlueFire anticipates
that refinements of the Lancaster facility design will form the
basis for a manufactured product that will be suitable for export,
particularly to developing countries.
According to Klann, “the size of our initial Lancaster facility is
consistent with the feedstock-gathering capabilities in developing
countries or other locations where aggregation of large quantities
of useable feedstock is not as practical. These ’right-sized’
modules will be ideal for regions unable to produce locally-sourced
fuels.”
BlueFire Ethanol is one of six ethanol companies awarded funding
from the U.S. Department of Energy to construct ethanol production
facilities. Unlike remote corn ethanol production plants,
BlueFire’s biorefineries will be located in markets with the
highest demand for ethanol. This dramatically reduces delivery
costs and increases biofuels supply, while providing a unique
waste-processing technology that helps cities better manage the
problem of overflowing landfills.
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