Showing papers on "Alcohol fuel published in 2013"

Advances in diesel–alcohol blends and their effects on the performance and emissions of diesel engines

Abstract: The increasing energy demand, surging oil prices, depleting oil reserves and environmental pollution problems associated with the use of fossil fuels have sparked renewed interest to find out clean alternative fuels. Alcohols such as methanol, ethanol and butanol are competitive alternative fuels due to their liquid nature, high oxygen contents, high octane number and their production from renewable biomass. In this review, the fuel properties of these alcohols are compared with conventional gasoline and diesel fuel. The comparison of fuel properties represents that butanol has the potential to overcome the problems associated with the use of methanol and ethanol. Progresses of their production from different sources are also introduced. Further, several techniques such as alcohol–diesel fuel blends and alcohol–diesel fuel emulsions are discussed, especially for lower alcohols, in order to use them in diesel engines. The effects of diesel–alcohol blends on the combustion, performance and emissions of diesel engines are also analyzed. It is examined that blending of alcohols, along with some CN improver, to diesel fuels can reduce diesel engine emissions without adverse impacts on the performance of diesel engines. These studies also reveal that butanol is a better alternative for diesel fuel due to its superior fuel properties and miscibility with diesel fuel than those of methanol and ethanol. Finally, some critical conclusions and future research directions are highlighted.

Review on alcohol fumigation on diesel engine: A viable alternative dual fuel technology for satisfactory engine performance and reduction of environment concerning emission

Abstract: Fossil fuels are the most imperative parameters to flourish the every sphere of modern civilization including industrial development, transportation, power generation and easing the accomplishment of works. The rapid increase in usage of fossil fuel has unavoidable deleterious effect on environment. The international consciousness for environment protection is growing and ever more strict emission legislations are being enacted. Simultaneously the storage of fossil fuel is depleting. Hence, the above situations promote the scientists to find alternative sustainable fuels along with their suitable using technique which will reduce the pollutant emission and will be applicable for gaining satisfactory engine performance. In these perspectives, alcohol fumigation is getting high demand as an effective measure to reduce pollutant emission from diesel engine vehicles. Alcohol fumigation is a dual fuel engine operation technique in which alcohol fuels are premixed with intake air. The aim of this paper is to identify the potential use of alcohols in fumigation mode on diesel engine. In this literature review, the effect of ethanol and methanol fumigation on engine performance and emission of diesel engine has been critically analyzed. A variety of fumigation ratios from 5% to 40% have been applied in different types of engines with various types of operational mode. It has been found that the application of alcohol fumigation technique leads to a significant reduction in the more environment concerning emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) up to 7.2%, oxides of nitrogen (NO x ) up to 20% and particulate matter (PM) up to 57%. However, increase in carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) emission have been found after use of alcohol fumigation. Alcohol fumigation also increases the BSFC due to having higher heat of vaporization. Brake thermal efficiency decreases at low engine load and increases at higher engine load.

Analytical Assessment of C2–C8 Alcohols as Spark-Ignition Engine Fuels

Abstract: The U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) requires a drastic increases in production of advanced biofuels up to 36 billion gallons over the next decade while corn-based ethanol will be capped at 15 billion gallons. Currently ethanol is the predominant alternative fuel and is widely distributed at 10 vol % blends in gasoline (E10). However, certain properties of ethanol make it less desirable as a blending agent in particular at higher blend levels. Therefore the engine- and vehicle-related properties of longer chain alcohols are evaluated in comparison to gasoline to determine their suitability as blending agents for spark-ignition engine fuels. This analytical study aims at providing comprehensive property data for a range of alcohol isomers with a carbon count up to C8. Relevant physical property data is used to determine the general suitability of longer chain alcohol isomers as blending agents based on factors such as melting point and boiling. Based on initial findings the scope of the study was narrowed down to alcohols in the C2–C6 range. It was determined that the engine- and combustion-relevant information is missing from the literature for a wide range of longer chain isomers. Thus fuel testing for engine-relevant properties such as lower heating value, knock resistance (RON, MON) and Reid Vapour Pressure (RVP) for alcohols up to C6 was performed as part of this study. Data suggests that the melting point of alcohols increases with increasing carbon count and all C7 and C8 isomers exhibit melting points in excess of −40 °C making their use as vehicle fuel questionable. Boiling points increase with increasing carbon count and n-structures generally have slightly higher boiling points than their respective iso-structures. Latent heat of vaporization decreases with carbon count, the mass-specific value for ethanol is triple that of gasoline, the energy specific ratio increases to a factor of 5. Alcohol fuels generally have a significantly lower RVP than gasoline, RVP decreases with increasing carbon count. Stoichiometric air demand and fuel energy content increase with carbon count. Knock resistance expressed as Research Octane Number (RON) and Motor Octane Number (MON) decreases significantly with increasing carbon count, iso-structures show increased knock resistance compared to their respective n-structures. This study is limited to analytical results as well as fuel property testing according to ASTM standards. Only properties of neat alcohols are evaluated in comparison to gasoline certification fuel, gasoline blend stock for ethanol blending and E10. The analysis of the reported properties is further focused on spark-ignition engine applications only. Future phases of this project will include the assessment of properties of multi-component blends as well as efficiency, performance and emissions testing on a modern direct-injection engine. While data for a limited number of commonly used alcohols such as ethanol and iso-butanol is available in the literature, little or no data is available for a majority of other alcohols and their isomers. In addition, engine-related data published in the past occasionally disregards the significant differences between alcohol isomers of the same chain length. This study offers a comprehensive review of physical properties of alcohols and their common isomers in the C2–C8 range as they relate to in-vehicle use and spark-ignition combustion engine application. Data presented in this paper suggests that higher alcohols have certain physical properties that might be desirable for blending with gasoline. Due to their oxygen content all alcohols have an inherent disadvantage in terms of energy content compared to non-oxygenated fuels. While this disadvantage becomes less pronounced with increasing carbon count, other less desirable properties such as a low RVP and reduced knock resistance become more dominant with longer chain length alcohols. In addition to merely evaluating properties, the selection of promising alcohols and blend levels will ultimately depend on the introduction scenario and target properties.

Carbon-Based Nanomaterials

Abstract: In fuel cells both the anode and cathode electrocatalysts are generally composed of nanosized metal particles which are supported on high surface area materials. The electrochemically active surface area (EASA), of catalysts used in low temperature fuel cells, such as polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC, fed with hydrogen), direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs, alcohols: ethanol, methanol, polyalcohols), and direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFC), has been found to be greatly enhanced when high surface area carbon-based materials are used as the support. As described in detail in Chap. 3, at the anode of a PEMFC dihydrogen is oxidized yielding protons and electrons.

Catalysts for Alcohol-Fuelled Direct Oxidation Fuel Cells

Abstract: Johnson Matthey Technology Centre, Blounts Court, Sonning Common, Reading RG4 9NH, UK Email: amartinez@matthey.com “Catalysts for Alcohol-Fuelled Direct Oxidation Fuel Cells” is aimed at a general audience with an interest in low power fuel cells, as well as experts in the area. The book is edited by Zhen-Xing Liang, Lecturer at the South China University of Technology, and Tim S. Zhao, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and director of the HKUST Energy Institute. The book contains seven chapters in 264 pages and reviews the catalysis of alcohol electrooxidation in low-temperature fuel cells. The reader will fi nd a general overview of the catalysis involved in the oxidation of alcohols such as methanol and ethanol. More unusually the oxidation of ethylene glycol and glycerol are also described in detail. Although the title for this book is specifi c to alcohol fuel cells it also contains individual chapters describing the oxidation of other fuels of interest such as formic acid, borohydride and sugars. The book concludes with a chapter on the challenges that alcohol fuel cells need to overcome.

Reduction of emissions with propane addition to a diesel engine

Abstract: Recent studies on dual-fuel combustion in compression-ignition (CI) engines, also known as diesel engines, fall into two categories. In the first category are studies focused on the addition of small amounts of gaseous fuel to CI engines. In these studies, gaseous fuel is regarded as a secondary fuel and diesel fuel is regarded as the main fuel for combustion. The objectives of these studies typically involve reducing particulate matter (PM) emissions by using gaseous fuel as a partial substitution for diesel fuel. However, the addition of gaseous fuel raises the combustion temperature, which increases emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx). In the second category are studies focused on reactivity-controlled compression-ignition (RCCI) combustion. RCCI combustion can be implemented by early diesel injection with a large amount of low-reactivity fuel such as gasoline or gaseous fuel. Although RCCI combustion promises lower NOx and PM emissions and higher thermal efficiency than conventional diesel combustion, it requires a higher intake pressure (usually more than 1.7 bars) to maintain a lean fuel mixture. Therefore, in this study, practical applications of dual-fuel combustion with a low air-fuel ratio (AFR), which implies a low intake pressure, were systemically evaluated using propane in a diesel engine. The characteristics of dualfuel combustion for high and low AFRs were first evaluated. The proportion of propane used for four different operating conditions was then increased to decrease emissions and to identify the optimal condition for dual-fuel combustion. Although the four operating conditions differ, the AFR was maintained at 20 (ϕ approximately equal to 0.72) and the 50% mass fraction burned (MFB 50) was also fixed. The results show that dual-fuel combustion can reduce NOx and PM emissions in comparison to conventional diesel combustion.

Experimental study of hydrous ethanol gasoline blend (E10) in a four stroke port fuel‐injected spark ignition engine

Abstract: SUMMARY Performance, emissions and combustion characteristics of a port-injected engine fuelled with hydrous ethanol gasoline blend (E10 - 10% of hydrous ethanol by volume in gasoline) were compared with gasoline operation. Hydrous ethanol blend produced higher power output with lean mixtures at part throttle condition. Higher flame velocity and wider flammability limits of the blend resulted in lower cycle-by-cycle variations in indicated mean effective pressure as compared to gasoline. Hydro carbon emission was also lower due to the oxygen available in the fuel (E10), which enhanced the combustion rate. Higher latent heat of evaporation of the ethanol blend and water present in it resulted in lower in-cylinder temperature, which in turn led to lesser NOx emissions. Thermal efficiency with the blend was higher in the leaner operating conditions than gasoline. Not much difference in performance, emission and combustion characteristics between neat gasoline and E10 were observed at full throttle operation. On the whole, hydrous ethanol blends can be used as a fuel with good performance and low emissions at part load condition. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Analysis of Marine Diesel Fuel with the Advanced Distillation Curve Method

Abstract: Ocean-going ships burn heavy fuel oil. The combustion of heavy fuel oil in marine diesel engines emits nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and particulates into the air. Growing public concern over air quality has led to increased scrutiny of heavy fuel oil as a source of air pollutants, with calls for greater regulation of its composition to safeguard public health and the environment. Heavy fuel oil is a complex mixture, prepared by blending residual oil from petroleum distillation with more volatile fractions to meet industry standards. The fuel composition has a significant effect on the type and amount of combustion products produced, but the complexity of heavy fuel oil blends has hindered past efforts at analysis. The advanced distillation curve (ADC) method was developed as a complex fluid analysis protocol, combining thermophysical and chemical properties measurement. We applied the ADC method, under reduced pressure, to a sample of IFO 380 intermediate fuel oil to characterize its volatility and com...

The Influence of Diesel Fuel-biodiesel-ethanol-butanol Blends on the Performance and Emission Characteristics of a Diesel Engine

Abstract: In this study, performance and exhaust emissions of a diesel engine fueled with Fuel A (60% diesel–30% biodiesel–5% ethanol–5% butanol) and Fuel B (40% diesel–50% biodiesel–5% ethanol–5% butanol) were investigated. The biodiesel produced from trap grease was obtained with an oil separator. Fuel A and Fuel B were tested in a single cylinder, four-stroke diesel engine at full load conditions. Compared with diesel fuel, the performance characteristics of blend fuels slightly deteriorated while the emission characteristics improved significantly. CO and HC emissions decreased by 87.01 and 87.50%, respectively.

Emission Reduction on Ethanol–Gasoline Blend Using Fuel Additives for an SI Engine

Abstract: In this study, the effect of ethanol–gasoline blend with additives on a multi-cylinder spark ignition engine was investigated. The performance and emission tests were conducted in a multi-cylinder petrol engine. The test fuels were prepared using 99.9% pure ethanol and gasoline with additives blend, in the ratio of E50 + 5 additives, E60 + 10 additives, and the rest gasoline. Oxygen containing additives is usually used to improve gasoline's performance, reduce the exhaust emissions, and to increase fuel consumption as a result of the heating value of the blended fuels being lower than that of the gasoline. Similarly, octane improver additives and anti-knock additives are used. The aim of this investigation is to reformulate the fuel in order to enhance the fuel performance and reduce emissions from the engine. The fuel additive for internal combustion engines contains a mixture of toluene, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone, and xylene. The fuel additives are added to the fuel so as to enhance the opera...

Study of Cylinder Charge Control for Enabling Low Temperature Combustion in Diesel Engines

Abstract: Suitable cylinder charge preparation is deemed critical for the attainment of a highly homogeneous, diluted, and lean cylinder charge which is shown to lower the flame temperature. The resultant low temperature combustion (LTC) can simultaneously reduce the NOx and soot emissions from diesel engines. This requires sophisticated coordination of multiple control systems for controlling the intake boost, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), and fueling events. Additionally, the cylinder charge modulation becomes more complicated in the novel combustion concepts that apply port injection of low reactivity alcohol fuels to replace the diesel fuel partially or entirely. In this work, experiments have been conducted on a single cylinder research engine with diesel and ethanol fuels. The test platform is capable of independently controlling the intake boost, EGR rates, and fuelling events. Effects of these control variables are evaluated with diesel direct injection and a combination of diesel direct injection and ethanol port injection. Data analyses are performed to establish the control requirements for stable operation at different engine load levels with the use of one or two fuels. The sensitivity of the combustion modes is thereby analyzed with regard to the boost, EGR, fuel types and fueling strategies. Zero-dimensional cycle simulations have been conducted in parallel with the experiments to evaluate the operating requirements and operation zones of the LTC combustion modes. Correlations are generated between air-fuel ratio (λ), EGR rate, boost level, in-cylinder oxygen concentration and load level using the experimental data and simulation results. Development of a real-time boost-EGR set-point determination to sustain the LTC mode at the varying engine load levels and fueling strategies is proposed.Copyright © 2013 by ASME

Long Term Performance Study of a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Fed with Alcohol Blends

Abstract: The use of alcohol blends in direct alcohol fuel cells may be a more environmentally friendly and less toxic alternative to the use of methanol alone in direct methanol fuel cells. This paper assesses the behaviour of a direct methanol fuel cell fed with aqueous methanol, aqueous ethanol and aqueous methanol/ethanol blends in a long term experimental study followed by modelling of polarization curves. Fuel cell performance is seen to decrease as the ethanol content rises, and subsequent operation with aqueous methanol only partly reverts this loss of performance. It seems that the difference in the oxidation rate of these alcohols may not be the only factor affecting fuel cell performance.

Low-Platinum-Content Electrocatalysts for Methanol and Ethanol Electrooxidation

Abstract: Methanol and ethanol, having high energy density, likely production from renewable sources, and ease of storage and distribution, are ideal combustibles for fuel cells wherein their chemical energy can be converted directly into electrical energy. However, the slow, incomplete oxidation of methanol and ethanol on platinum-based anodes as well as the high price and limited reserves of platinum has hampered the practical application of direct alcohol fuel cells. Extensive research efforts have been dedicated to developing high-activity electrocatalysts. This chapter presents an overview of the recent progress in methanol and ethanol electrocatalysis on platinum-based materials, with special attention focused on the research effort to reduce platinum content.

NOx emissions from high swirl turbulent spray flames with highly oxygenated fuels

Abstract: Combustion of fuels with fuel bound oxygen is of interest from both a practical and a fundamental viewpoint. While a great deal of work has been done studying the effect of oxygenated additives in diesel and gasoline engines, much less has been done examining combustion characteristics of fuels with extremely high mass fractions of fuel bound oxygen. This work presents an initial investigation into the very low NOx emissions resulting from the combustion of a model, high oxygen mass fraction fuel. Glycerol was chosen as a model fuel with a fuel bound oxygen mass fraction of 52%, and was compared with emissions measured from diesel combustion at similar conditions in a high swirl turbulent spray flame. This work has shown that high fuel bound oxygen mass fractions allow for combustion at low global equivalence ratios with comparable exhaust gas temperatures due to the significantly lower concentrations of diluting nitrogen. Despite similar exhaust gas temperatures, NOx emissions from glycerol combustion were up to an order of magnitude lower than those measured using diesel fuel. This is shown to be a result not of specific burner geometry, but rather is influenced by the presence of higher oxygen and lower nitrogen concentrations at the flame front inhibiting NOx production.