Showing papers on "Alcohol fuel published in 1999"

System for desulfurizing a fuel for use in a fuel cell power plant

Abstract: A fuel processing system is operable to remove substantially all of the sulfur present in an undiluted hydrocarbon fuel stock supply used to power a fuel cell power plant in a mobile environment, such as an automobile, bus, truck, boat, or the like, or in a stationary environment. The power plant hydrogen fuel source can be gasoline, diesel fuel, naphtha, light hydrocarbon fuels such as butane, propane, natural gas, or other like fuels which contain relatively high levels of organic sulfur compounds such as mercaptans, sulfides, disulfides, and the like. The undiluted hydrocarbon fuel supply is passed through a nickel desulfurizer bed wherein essentially all of the sulfur in the organic sulfur compounds react with the nickel reactant, and are converted to nickel sulfide while the desulfurized organic remnants continue through the remainder of the fuel processing system. The system does not require the addition of steam or a hydrogen source to the fuel stream prior to the desulfurizing step. The system operates at relatively low temperatures and can be used to desulfurize either a liquid or a gaseous fuel stream.

Fuel composition for gasoline powered vehicle and method

Abstract: A fuel composition with a high flash point and a high octane number is provided. The preferred embodiment of the fuel comprises a paraffin or aromatic hydrocarbon component which may be mixed with an additive of alcohols, ethers, esters, organometallic compounds or mixtures thereof. The fuel composition is useful as emergency fuel for use in gasoline powered vehicles.

Base fuel oil for diesel fuel oil and diesel fuel oil composition comprising the same

Abstract: This invention provides a base fuel oil, having improved response to lubricity additives, for diesel fuel oil characterized by (1) sulfur content of 0.03 wt% or less, (2) nitrogen content of 35 wt. ppm or less, (3) density of 0.835 g/cm3 or less and (4) solubility parameter of 7.00 to 8.10, and also provides a diesel fuel oil composition comprising the above base fuel oil incorporated with a lubricity additive.

Nitrogen oxide removal using diesel fuel and a catalyst

Abstract: Hydrocarbons, such as diesel fuel, are added to internal combustion engine exhaust to reduce exhaust NOx in the presence of a amphoteric catalyst support material. Exhaust NOx reduction of at least 50% in the emissions is achieved with the addition of less than 5% fuel as a source of the hydrocarbons.

Process for the production of hydrogen by the catalytic reforming of ethanol with water vapor useful in the functioning of a fuel cell system

Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyst and a process for the reforming of ethanol and to a fuel cell system using them. According to the invention, the reforming catalyst and ethanol consists of nickel or a mixture of nickel + copper, supported on alumina or silica, the nickel + copper content being less than or equal to 40% by weight relative to the weight of the catalyst.The invention finds application, in particular in a battery system fuel.

Method for producing fuel distillates

Abstract: Methods for producing fuel distillates used as raw material in the production of fuel for engines or jet engines. The invention involves mixing residual petroleum raw material (oil fuel, tar) with sapropelite and with a fraction of thermo-cracking or hydro-cracking hydrogenated products having a boiling point of between 300 and 400° C. in an amount of between 1 and 5% relative to the weight of the residual petroleum raw material. The mixture is heated, homogenized at least twice in a dispersing agent at a temperature of between 85 and 105° C., and submitted to a thermo-cracking or hydro-cracking process. The fuel distillates (petrol, diesel fuel and gas oil) are then separated from the thermo- or hydro-cracking products. The invention thus pertains to the production of petroleum fuels and may be used in the oil-conversion industry.

Low-pollution liquid fuel and process for producing the same

Abstract: A low-pollution liquid fuel comprising 10 to 50 vol. % at least two aliphatic monohydric alcohols, 40 to 60 vol. % at least one (un)saturated hydrocarbon, and 10 to 30 vol. % at least one ether. The fuel is produced by mixing these fuel ingredients in order of polarity. The fuel needs no modification in the structure/material of existing internal-combustion gasoline engines. It is used alone or as a mixture with gasoline, whereby an efficiency and a power which are equal to or higher than those attainable with gasoline are obtained and the exhaust gas is extremely reduced in the contents of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC).

Plant response to motor exhaust emissions from gasoline and alcohol.

Abstract: Plants of Ricinus communis L. were fumigated with different dilutions of exhaust gases from gasoline or ethanol from sugar cane commonly used in Brazil. Alcohol proved less toxic than gasoline in terms of visual injuries produced by acute toxic concentrations. Exhaust gases first attacked leaf palisade parenchyma resulting in necrotic spots with reduced chlorophyll content and led to a decrease in peroxidase and nitrate reductase activities. Non-lesion-producing exhaust gas concentrations from both fuel types stimulated peroxidase and nitrate reductase activities, but reduced soluble protein content in the leaves. Levels of nitrate and nitrite were higher after fumigation and chlorophyll content not altered. It was concluded that from an environmental standpoint, alcohol fuel from sugar cane is a reasonable alternative energy source to fossil gasoline. Additional index terms: chlorophyll, fossil fuel, fumigation experiments, nitrate reductase, nitrogen metabolism, peroxidase, soluble protein, sugar cane.

Fuel composition having a negative fuel sensitivity

Abstract: A fuel composition with a high flash point and a high octane number is provided. The preferred embodiment of the fuel comprises a paraffin or aromatic hydrocarbon component which may be mixed with an additive of alcohols, ethers, esters, organometallic compounds or mixtures thereof. The fuel composition is useful as emergency fuel for use in gasoline powered vehicles.

Atom-economical pathways to methanol fuel cell from biomass

Abstract: An economical production of alcohol fuels from biomass, a feedstock low in carbon and high in water content, is of interest. At Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), a Liquid Phase Low Temperature (LPLT) concept is under development to improve the economics by maximizing the conversion of energy carrier atoms (C,H) into energy liquids (fuel). So far, the LPLT concept has been successfully applied to obtain highly efficient methanol synthesis. This synthesis was achieved with specifically designed soluble catalysts, at temperatures < 150 C. A subsequent study at BNL yielded a water-gas-shift (WGS) catalyst for the production of hydrogen from a feedstock of carbon monoxide and H{sub 2}O at temperatures < 120 C. With these LPLT technologies as a background, this paper extends the discussion of the LPLT concept to include methanol decomposition into 3 moles of H{sub 2} per mole of methanol. The implication of these technologies for the atom-economical pathways to methanol fuel cell from biomass is discussed.

Fuel conditioner and improver compositions

Abstract: Fuel conditioner and improver compositions for (1) diesel fuel for medium speed diesel engines and (2) gasoline, diesel fuel, liquified petroleum gas (LPG), and liquified natural gas (LNG).

Investigation on Methanol Engine with DME Fumigation

Abstract: Being a non-soot and low NOx emission level fuel, methanol (MeOH) might be considered as an attractive candidate for use in diesel engine. However, having low cetane number and high heat of vaporization, it is not possible to use in diesel engines without engine modifications. In order to take advantages of the alcohol fuels and to avoid engine complexities, which might come along with such modifications, the use of ignition improver additives dissolved in the base fuel is a normal practice. Another promising solution for qualitative combustion in methanol diesel engines is to design an onboard methanol dehydration reactor which can generate dimethyl ether (DME), for use as ignition improver. As a dissolved mixture MeOH-DME requires a special fuel system, the main emphasis was put on the fumigation technique, where a small quantity of DME has been injected into the inlet duct of the engine and the base fuel (MeOH) is conventionally injected through the common rail pump. A research program was set up for evaluating the effectiveness of DME as ignition improver and to compare results with the conventional additive poly-ethylene-glycol (PEG). The heat release analysis has shown that, the fumigated DME undergoes sufficient combustion during compression stroke. Consequently, the temperature and pressure of the gases in the cylinder increase to the point, where the ignition delay of the base fuel (MeOH) is very short. Such precombustion affects the engine performance and emission output, especially NOx and HC levels. It was generally observed that, the regulated emissions were lower and the engine efficiency slightly higher when compared with those obtained when ethanol (EtOH) mixed with PEG or EtOH with fumigated DEE were used. However, the fumigation tests have shown that running on MeOH fuel, the maximum torque and maximum power could not be reached, as it was expected, due to the limited delivery of flow from the fuel pump. Nevertheless, verified possibilities for using DME as ignition improver in a methanol diesel engine, leads to a proper version of the on-board DME reactor design, which would bring to another solution for methanol fuelled engines.

Portable electric power supplier by using a direct alcohol fuel cell

Abstract: PURPOSE: Provided is a portable power supply device using an alcohol fuel cell, which gives a charge of electricity to a secondary battery by using electric energy generated from the fuel cell itself. CONSTITUTION: The portable power supply device comprises: a fuel cell stack(11) comprising liquid type unit cells, which is mounted in a housing; a compression type fuel reservoir(13) joined with the fuel cell stack(11), which stores fuel for a reaction of the cell; an exhaust port(14) to discharge carbon dioxide generated by the electrode reaction of the fuel cell; a control switch(16) to control the electrode reaction; power output terminals(22) to transmit the electricity generated from the cell to an outside.