Abstract: An ethanol production system includes a feedstock distributor and a micro-refinery. The feedstock distributor can pre-ferment and pre-distill the feedstock so that the ethanol content can be between 15% and 50%. This processing can improve the ethanol production efficiency because less waste material is transported from the distributor to the micro-refineries and less time is needed by the micro-refineries to produce ethanol.

Abstract: An ethanol and electrical power supply system includes a micro refinery that produces ethanol, an engine that runs on the ethanol produced by the micro-refinery and a generator that converts energy from the engine into electrical energy. The micro-refinery ferments feedstock to produce water and ethanol. Heat from the engine is transferred to the micro-refinery and used to vaporize the ethanol during the distillation process.

Abstract: A micro refinery produces ethanol that is distilled in a distillation tube. A sensor detects the liquid level within the distillation tube. The sensor includes a guide wire mounted within the distillation tube, a float mounted around the guide wire and an external magnetometer circuit mounted to an external surface of the distillation tube. The float includes a magnet and as the float rests on the upper surface of the fluid in the distillation tube, the external magnetometer circuit detects the position of the float and provides information about the liquid level in the distillation tube.

Abstract: A micro refinery system includes a fermentation tank, a distillation tube and a membrane ethanol separation mechanism. A batch that includes sugar, yeast and water is mixed in the fermentation tank. Sensors detect the physical characteristics of the batch and the operating status of the system. The sensors are coupled to a control system that compares the detected processing information to a look up table to determine if the system is operating under optimum ethanol productivity conditions. If the sensors detect a problem with the batch, the control system can add chemical components to the batch to correct the chemical imbalance. The system can also facilitate remote operations by transmitting sensed information to an operator computer and receiving control commands from the operator computer.