Alcohol fuel

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

The Effects of Alcohol Fuels and Fully Formulated Lubricants on Engine Wear

Abstract: An investigation of the effects of alcohol fuels and lubricant formulations on spark ignition engine wear and deposition was made Tests were conducted using near methanol, anhydrous ethanol, and alcohol blends as fuel in a 23-liter engine using a modified ASTM Sequence V-D test procedure

Engine performance and exhaust emissions: methanol versus isooctane

Abstract: Operating characteristics of a single-cylinder, spark-ignition engine fueled by both methanol and isooctane were determined. Engine output, indicated specific fuel consumption, and specific emissions of hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, and aldehydes were measured for both fuels and compared using the performance maps. The engine output comparisons showed that lean misfire limits occurred at leaner mixtures with methanol than with isooctane and that maximum engine output levels were nearly equal for both fuels. Comparison of the specific parameters of each fuel at equivalent power levels obtained with maximum power spark timing permits the following conclusions: use of methanol results in higher indicated specific fuel consumption, greater emission of aldehydes, but lower emissions of hydrocarbon and nitric oxide; the two fuels showed similar trends of carbon monoxide emission.

Alternative Uses for Biodiesel Byproduct: Glycerol as Source of Energy and High Valuable Chemicals

Abstract: Glycerol was firstly faced as a residue, since it is massively produced from the transesterification of vegetable oils and animal fat, corresponding to roughly 10% of the total amount of biodiesel. The recent high availability of glycerol has decreased its price and increased the risks of environmentally inadequate disposal. Now, this small chain alcohol is faced as a powerful alternative for energy conversion and production of chemicals with commercial interest. Its three hydrated carbons make this organic a noticeable substrate to produce other carbonyl compounds and to be used to produce energy in electrochemical devices collectively known as direct alcohol fuel cells. The development in the electrocatalysis field opened up new strategies to convert glycerol into power and chemicals, by using fuel cells and electrolyzer reactors. In both systems, the efficiency of the process depends on several aspects, as the medium, applied potential, and mainly on the surface reaction taking place at the interface between solution and electrode. In this chapter, we discuss the use of glycerol in these electrochemical systems and illustrate some experimental results regarding fundamental and applied science. Namely, we describe some advances in the understanding of the glycerol electro-oxidation reaction interpreted by spectroscopy and chromatographic techniques. Novel nanomaterials currently applied to improve the catalysis of the reaction are also shown. Moreover, we comment some results regarding fuel cells, microfluidic fuel cells, and electrolyzers fed by glycerol and the perspectives and challenges of its use.

Driving Cycle Economy, Emissions and Photochemical Reactivity Using Alcohol Fuels and Gasoline

Abstract: An oxidation catalyst equipped vehicle and several three-way-catalyst (TWC) equipped vehicles were modified to operate on the Federal Test Procedure using gasoline or alcohol fuels. Unburned (hydro)carbon emissions were generally lowest when methanol fuel was used. Oxides of nitrogen (NOx) were reduced an average of more than 50% by using alcohol fuels in contrast to gasoline. Photochemical reactivity comparisons of unburned fuel emissions were made by calculation and also with a 100 cu. ft. smog chamber. Synthetic reproductions (surrogates) of stoichiometric methanol exhaust were less photochemically reactive than gasoline exhaust surrogates for the 8.5:1 compression ratio engine conditions. This effect was observed even though methanol exhaust surrogates were tested at higher hydrocarbon-to-NOx ratios (20:1 vs 13.8:1) than were the gasoline exhaust surrogates. The exhaust from the stoichiometric TWC-equipped vehicles was extremely low in calculated and experimental reactivities for both methanol and gasoline fuels. This was due to their very low mass emissions and low exhaust hydrocarbon-to-NOx ratios.