Alcohol fuel

About: Alcohol fuel is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2030 publications have been published within this topic receiving 42757 citations.

Ternary PtRuPd/C Catalyst for High‐Performance, Low‐Temperature Direct Dimethyl Ether Fuel Cells

Abstract: Here, dimethyl ether (DME) is a promising alternative fuel option for direct-feed low-temperature fuel cells. Until recently, DME had not received the same attention as alcohol fuels, such as methanol or ethanol, despite its notable advantages. These advantages include a high theoretical open-cell voltage (1.18 V at 25 °C) that is similar to that of methanol (1.21 V), much lower toxicity than methanol, and no need for the carbon–carbon bond scission that is needed in ethanol oxidation. DME is biodegradable, has a higher energy content than methanol (8.2 vs. 6.1 kWh kg–1), and, like methanol, can be synthesized from recycled carbon dioxide. Although the performance of direct DME fuel cells (DDMEFCs) has progressed over the past few years, DDMEFCs have not been viewed as fully viable. In this work, we report much improved performance from the ternary Pt55Ru35Pd10/C anode catalyst, allowing DDMEFCs to compete directly with direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). We also report results involving binary Pt alloys as reference catalysts and an in situ infrared electrochemical study to better understand the mechanism of DME electro-oxidation on ternary PtRuPd/C catalysts.

Cold start characteristics of ethanol as an automobile fuel

Abstract: An alcohol fuel burner and decomposer in which one stream of fuel is preheated by passing it through an electrically heated conduit to vaporize the fuel, the fuel vapor is mixed with air, the air-fuel mixture is ignited and combusted, and the combustion gases are passed in heat exchange relationship with a conduit carrying a stream of fuel to decompose the fuel forming a fuel stream containing hydrogen gas for starting internal combustion engines, the mass flow of the combustion gas being increased as it flows in heat exchange relationship with the fuel carrying conduit, is disclosed.

Comparison of Combustion, Performance, and Emissions of HSDI Diesel Engine Operating on Blends of Diesel Fuel with Ethanol, n-Butanol, or Butanol Isomer Ether DEE

Abstract: The present investigation evaluates the combustion, performance, and exhaust emissions of diesel fuel in blends with either 5, 10, and 15% ethanol, or with 8, 16, and 24% n-butanol, or lastly with 8, 16, and 24% diethyl ether (DEE, an isomer ether of butanol) by volume, fueling a standard, experimental, single-cylinder, four-stroke, high-speed direct injection (HSDI), Hydra diesel engine. The tests were conducted using each of the above fuel blends, with the engine operating at three different loads. Fuel consumption, exhaust gas temperature, and exhaust smoke, nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and total unburned hydrocarbons (HC) were measured. The differences in combustion, performance, and exhaust emissions of those biofuel blends from the baseline operation of the diesel engine (when working with neat diesel fuel) and among themselves are compared. Fuel injection diagrams, combustion chamber pressure diagrams, and heat release rate (HRR) diagrams obtained thereof, reveal some intere...

Hydrogen as a fuel for fuel cell vehicles: A technical and economic comparison

Abstract: All fuel cells currently being developed for near term use in vehicles require hydrogen as a fuel. Hydrogen can be stored directly or produced onboard the vehicle by reforming methanol, ethanol or hydrocarbon fuels derived from crude oil (e.g., Diesel, gasoline or middle distillates). The vehicle design is simpler with direct hydrogen storage, but requires developing a more complex refueling infrastructure. In this paper, the authors compare three leading options for fuel storage onboard fuel cell vehicles: compressed gas hydrogen storage; onboard steam reforming of methanol; onboard partial oxidation (POX) of hydrocarbon fuels derived from crude oil. Equilibrium, kinetic and heat integrated system (ASPEN) models have been developed to estimate the performance of onboard steam reforming and POX fuel processors. These results have been incorporated into a fuel cell vehicle model, allowing us to compare the vehicle performance, fuel economy, weight, and cost for various fuel storage choices and driving cycles. A range of technical and economic parameters were considered. The infrastructure requirements are also compared for gaseous hydrogen, methanol and hydrocarbon fuels from crude oil, including the added costs of fuel production, storage, distribution and refueling stations. Considering both vehicle and infrastructure issues, the authors compare hydrogen to othermore » fuel cell vehicle fuels. Technical and economic goals for fuel cell vehicle and hydrogen technologies are discussed. Potential roles for hydrogen in the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles are sketched.« less