Scope for Alternate fuels for I. C.

Engines

P M V Subbarao
Professor
Mechanical Engineering Department

Means to move towards Ideal Cycle Performance Limits !!!

 So, what is there besides
petroleum fuels?
Solid Fuels: Coal slurry – coal powder
+water
Particle size- 10 micrometer
Abrasion
Wear and tear is more
 INTRODUCTION
• Globally transport sector is
responsible for an estimated
21% of all greenhouse gas
emissions.
• Fossil oil is the main energy
source with a 98% contribution
to all transport fuels.
• Drivers can greatly reduce these
impacts:
– choosing cleaner vehicles
– driving more efficiently
• In most cases these measures
will lead to:
– financial savings
– environmental benefits
More information
So, what is there besides gasoline?

Well there are a few alternatives:

• Biodiesel •Methanol
• Electricity • Natural Gas
• Ethanol • Propanol
• Hydrogen •Butanol
The IC Engine is not addicted to fossil fuels …. WE ARE!
There is scope for alternative fuels.
Clues for Improvement- alternative fuels : Natural Gas
• Somewhat cleaner than gasoline, non-toxic
• High octane without refining or additives (≈ 110)
• No cold start problem
• Half the CO2 emission of EVs charged with coal-generated
electricity
• Dual-fuel (gasoline + natural gas) easily accommodated
• Disadvantages: 1. Lower energy storage density (≈ 1/4
gasoline) 2. Lower CV, and lower power (≈ 7% less)
Attractive for fleet vehicles with limited territory
Renewable bio-methane could increasingly take the place of
fossil-fuel gas.
IS NATURAL GAS AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL?
Natural Gas
• Natural Gas as an alternative fuel: clean burning qualities of the
product.
• It has to be stored in a compressed state (CNG) or in a liquefied state
(LNG):
– Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
– Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
• Methane is the major
Filling stations part ofbut
are expensive, Natural
fuel Gas.
costs are low. For fleet owners with a
large share of “home based” vehicles it is
feasible to purchase an own filling point,
and for smaller fleets there might be
possibilities in joint purchase and joint use
of a filling point, or to use one from a
nearby fleet.
 Natural Gas
Why use natural gas?
• Lower emissions
• Lower smog producing gases (60-90% Light-Duty use, 90% in
Mid to Heavy-duty use)
• Can be used to make hydrogen to power the future fuel cell
technology
What is the future of natural gas?
• Natural gas is now being installed in 1 out of 5 transit buses
today
• Fueling systems can/are being installed in home or public
facilities
• Aftermarket systems can convert gasoline vehicles to a natural
gas system
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT NATURAL GAS
Clarifying Misconceptions

● Is Natural Gas lighter than air at ambient conditions?

– Yes, always Answers from www.greenfleet.info

41% 31%
– Only in warm climates Yes

– No, never
In warm
No

● The right answer is yes. 28%

● This means that natural gas would not accumulate on the floor level in case of
leakage, which is important when we use natural gas vehicles in underground
zones.
 METHANE: NATURAL GAS, BIOGAS
Internal Analysis

low price/tax exceptions

low emissions
Strengths
domestic resources (in some countries)
may be blended into the CNG network

high cost of filling (refuelling) stations

limited offer of OEM vehicles (in some segments)
Weaknesses
scarcity of refuelling stations
higher initial cost of vehicles (partly)
 METHANE: NATURAL GAS, BIOGAS
External Analysis

global/local environmental concerns

Opportunities global/local global warming concerns (for biogas)
long term increase of petroleum prices

availability of OEM products

stable regulatory and fiscal environment
Challenges broad public marketing
technical development of competing diesel engines
(emissions)
 WHAT ARE BIOFUELS?
Biofuels (Biodiesel, Bioethanol, Biogas )
• Biofuels: fuels from a variety of sources of biomass:
– plant materials
– certain types of crops
– recycled or waste vegetable oils
• Biodiesel/bioethanol:
– They can replace conventional diesel/petrol entirely respectively
– They can be blended with diesel/petrol in different proportions:
• Engines require no modification to use 5% blends
• For biodiesel, blends up to 20-30% are possible, but it invalidates many
manufacturers’ warranties
• Bioethanol can be used as:
– E85 (85% ethanol, 15% petrol) in Flexible Fuel Vehicles
– Additive ETBE (ethyl-tertio-butyl-ether) up to 15%
• Sunfuel/Synfuel:
– Gas to liquid fuels: from gasified biomass or biogas via Fischer Tropsch
Synthesis.
 Biodiesel
What is Biodiesel?
• Biodiesel is a fuel made from vegetable oil, animal
fats, and used restaurant grease
Why is a good alternative to traditional fuels?
• Lower emissions • Can be blended with
traditional fuel
• Renewable
• Biodegradable
• Little/no engine
modification • Infrastructure exists
 Biodiesls
Source: Biodiesels are produced from edible and non-
edible vegetable oils.
Vegetable oils as such can not be used: Smoke is a
problem.
Trans-esterification of oils is done produce biodiesels.
• Properties of biodiesel are almost similar to those of fossil diesel.
•Low sulphur content in the fuel
•Contain molecular oxygen.
•No problem of SOX, COX
•
How can Biodiesel help the environment?
• In a blended state with traditional fuel it can lower emissions such
as a 20% blend lowers CO2 emissions by 15%
• 100% Biodiesel can lower CO2 emissions by 75%
• Biodiesel produces fewer particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and
sulfur dioxide emissions
• It’s safe to store, handle, and transport cause of a high flash point
of 150 degrees Celsius instead of 77 degrees Celsius for traditional
fuels.

Is Biodiesel practical?
• Yes, it uses the current infrastructure and technology and costs $1
to $1.50 per gallon
 Alcohols -Advantages
Source: Natural and manufactured sources
• Adv: High Octane rating; best suited as SI engine fuels Higher
compression ratio can be used.
•Gives less overall emissions
•Contains molecular oxygen so better combustion
•Higher latent heat of vaporisation so cooler intake, better volumetric
efficiency. less knocking.
•Low sulphur content in the fuel
•No problem of SOX, COX
•
 Alcohols-Disadvantages
•CV is less, (=1/2 of gasoline) so Double the quantity of fuel is required
•Combustion of alcohols produce aldehydes, serious pollution.
Molecular oxygen results more NOX.
•Alcohol is more corrosive than gasoline on copper, brass, aluminum and
many plastics. Methanol is very corrosive on metals.
•Low boiling point and low vapour pressure. So, poor cold weather
starting characteristics, below 10 0C difficult to start. In general, poor
ignition characteristics.
•Alcohols have invisible flames. Dangerous.
•Low vapour pressure and Air leakage into fuel tank and creates a
combustion mixture. Vapour lock possibility.
•Strong odour of alcohol, so headaches and dizziness.

•FOOD VS FUEL. Cost of production: More.

 Ethanol
What is Ethanol?
• Ethanol is an alcohol-based fuel made from corn, wheat, barley, trees,
grass, sugar cane juice etc.

What are the benefits?

• Ethanol is renewable because it comes from fermenting crops
• Ethanol lowers carbon monoxide emissions
• Ethanol is widely available and can/is used in a 10% Ethanol blend
commercial vehicles today, with many other vehicles using higher blends
• Brazil-90% vehicles use gasohol (gasoline + alcohol) India: E10, E15.
 Methanol
What is methanol?
• Methanol is wood alcohol, which can be made from natural gas,
coal, or wood
What are the benefits?
• Lower emissions
• Higher performance
• Lower risk of flammability
• Methanol can be used to easily make hydrogen
•Disadvantage: Tendency for alcohol to combine with water
present. Separation of alcohol from gasoline. In general, water and
humidity of air reduces the knocking tendency in SI engines.
 Propane

What is propane?
• Propane is a liquefied gas made up of propane, propylene,
butane, and butylene from petroleum

What are the benefits?

• A 98% reduction in toxic emissions in light-duty bi-fuel vehicles
• In the quantities needed it costs less than gasoline
• Very accessible compared to other alternative fuels (4,000
publicly accessible facilities in the US)
 Propane
What does the future hold?

• Currently 200,000 vehicles in the US use propane (mostly fleet

vehicles like taxis and police cars)

• Since the current infrastructure can easily be converted to

dispense propane it makes for a cost effective solution to gasoline
by using the current fuel dispensing system
 Clues for Improvement - alternative fuels –
Alcohols/Bio-Diesels

 Slightly cleaner than gasoline

 High octane (≈ 95)/ varying (48 – 67) Cetane
 Not cost-effective without price subsidy
 Lower storage density (methanol ≈ 1/2 gasoline)
 Toxic combustion products (aldehydes)

Attractive to farm states

 Techniques of using Alcohol in CI engines

 Have higher Self Ignition Temperature, so Not good

CI engine fuels;
 Alcohol/diesle fuel solutions
 Alcohol/diesel emulsions
 Alcohol fumigation
 Dual fuel injection
 Surface ignition of alcohols
 Spark ignition of alcohols
 Alcohols containing ignition improving additives

Attractive to farm states

 WHY PROMOTE BIOFUELS?
• Transport biofuels have risen to prominence in recent years. The
main reasons for promoting biofuels are:
– To contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions;
– To contribute to the security of energy supply;
– To promote a greater use of renewable energy;
– To diversify agricultural economies into new markets.

To promote the used of biofuels, many member

states are relying on fuel tax exemptions.
 MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT BIOFUELS
Clarifying Misconceptions

Answers from www.greenfleet.info

25% 25%

Animal fat
Cook oil
Sunflower
Cotton

● 27% 23%

● There are a wide variety of feedstocks that can be used to produce biodiesel.
Since the type of feedstock heavily influences the fuel characteristics,
differences in quality and emissions are common.
 BIOFUELS: BIODIESEL, BIOETHANOL
Internal Analysis

low price/tax exemptions

domestic resources
Strengths
low cost or adapting refuelling stations
blending options

limited offer of OEM vehicles

Weaknesses
scarcity of refuelling stations
 BIOFUELS: BIODIESEL, BIOETHANOL
External Analysis

global/local global warming concerns

Opportunities
long term increase of petroleum prices

availability of OEM products

Challenges stable regulatory and fiscal environment
broad public marketing
Clues for Improvement- alternative fuels - Hydrogen

• Ultimate clean fuel

• Excellent combustion properties-physical delay is nil-
better mixing.
• Ideal for fuel cells
• Very low storage density (1/10 gasoline)
• Need to manufacture - usually from electricity + H2O
• Volumetric efficiency is less for gaseous fuels
Attractive when we have unlimited cheap clean source of
electricity and breakthrough in hydrogen storage
technology
 Hydrogen

Why use hydrogen?

• Hydrogen gas is the most abundant element on the planet
• Hydrogen mixed with natural gas can be used in internal combustion
engine
• Hydrogen is the perfect fuel to run fuel cells because pure hydrogen
reacts only with oxygen releasing water thus no emissions
• Hydrogen burns more efficiently and creates energy more efficiently
than gasoline
 Hydrogen

What are some cons?

• When the public thinks of hydrogen, the explosion of the famous
Hindenburg airship and this makes for low public opinion
• Hydrogen is extremely reactive with oxygen and makes it highly
flammable
• Because of hydrogen’s reactive nature, concept hydrogen cars
have/are going through many crash tests and results are good
 Conclusion
Alternative fuels generally lower emissions making them
appealing for environmental concerns. Many of these fuels are
renewable and would lessen the need for petroleum products.
A lot of these fuels are going to be used with the developing
fuel cell technology. With making the public aware of these
alternatives it could hasten the development of these fuels and
the technologies to run them. For more information visit the
links below:
http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/altfuel/altfuels.html
http://www.biodiesel.org/
http://www.4hydrogen.com/index.html
http://www.clean-vehicles.com/cleanv/