Alternate Fuel Systems : Fuel & battery technology I

• Alternative fuels

• Fuel cells

• Ethanol and methanol

• Natural gas

Alternative fuels

Alternative fuel sources are used as a way of reducing the operating cost of vehicles, or to reduce pollution from vehicle emissions, or both.
Some alternative fuels can be mixed with gasoline as a fuel additive to reduce the total amount of gasoline used, others are a complete fuel alternative which may require some modifications to the vehicle.
Ethanol is usually derived from an organic process such as the fermentation of sugar cane, and is therefore referred to as a bio-fuel. It is normally used in the ratio of 9:1 or 9 parts gasoline to 1 part ethanol and is primarily used to reduce the negative emission effects of gasoline.
Methanol is produced from wood or other organic materials. Its calorific value, or burn rate, is not as high as that of gasoline fuel and cannot be used in conventional vehicles without significant modifications.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas or LPG is a petroleum derived colorless gas, and has been used for many years to power specially modified gasoline engine vehicles. It is the third most common fuel and emits much fewer harmful emissions than gasoline. It is generally cheaper than gasoline and is non-toxic and non-poisonous with a very small flammability range. It is popular with high-mileage applications such as taxis, where the cost of vehicle modification can be recouped over time more easily through lower fuel costs.
Compressed Natural Gas or CNG is being used as an alternative fuel in vehicles such as light-duty passenger vehicles, delivery trucks and buses. CNG powered vehicles use natural gas stored in cylinders at pressures of 2,000 to 3,500 pounds per square inch or 140 to 240 Bar.

Alternate Fuel Systems : Clean vehicles, fuels and clean air

Clean vehicles, fuels and clean air

SULEV Sticker: Watch for a sticker like this when at the showroom. SULEVs (Super Low Emission Vehicles) offer great fuel economy and are reportedly 75% or more cleaner than ULEVs. Both are much cleaner than most vehicles now on the road.

Clean air legislation and pollutants—a review

Tightened emissions standards resulted first in evaporative emission control systems and sealed crankcases.
A switch to unleaded fuel (no small accomplishment) enabled manufacturers to use catalytic converters, and then came closed loop engine management systems with oxygen sensors, and reformulated gasoline blends. According to Downstream Alternatives: “With the introduction of so-called Tier One vehicles in 1999 hydrocarbon (HC) emissions have been reduced by 98% compared to pre-control era vehicles. Likewise, automotive emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) have been reduced 90% below control pre-levels.”2 Because of California’s severe air quality issues, tougher laws enacted there have led the nation; and some northeastern states have adapted tougher-thanfederal standards like those in the Golden State. OEs may thus find a given engine package certifies for sale under federal emissions standards, but not for California, et al.

Do alternative fuels offer emissions benefits? This diagram shows the p

 

 

 

 

 

 

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According to EPA figures, the average 2000 and 2001 model year vehicle emitted between 27.4 and 36.3 pounds of smog forming pollution (primarily NOx and HC) for every 15,000 miles—about the average driven per year.ercentage of combined carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) ozone-forming emissions for various alternative fuels as compared to reformulated gasoline (RFG).
Source: U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Cente

Alternate Fuel Systems : Clean fuel technology and energy independence

Clean fuel technology and energy independence

 Ethanol is renewable and becoming increasingly available in selected locations for use in FFVs. Anything containing sugar, starch or cellulose can be fermented and distilled into ethanol. Pictured top (L to R): scrapped newspapers, corn husks (stover), and Napier grass.




















Since 9/11, people are again concerned about U.S. dependence on imported oil. It’s no secret that much of our oil comes from unstable economic or political regions of the world, and fears of political instability drive up the cost of oil. Recent government policies are encouraging both a diversity of supply and a broad mix of supply options to help lessen American dependence on imported oil.
DOE Secretary Spencer Abraham has emphasized the importance of energy supply diversity. Let’s look at some of the nation’s policy issues and some short-term alternatives to the use of petroleum.

Alternate Fuel Systems : A market overview of alternative fuel vehicles

A market overview of alternative fuel vehicles

This Ford Taurus flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) comes with the 3.0L V-6 engine and runs on ethanol (E85), gasoline, or any combination of the two fuels.

Mandates

Alternate fuels are not new to the automotive world. Both steam and electricity were powering vehicles a hundred years ago. Today, both road and nonroad vehicles are powered by a variety of alternate fuels such as propane, natural gas, electricity, ethanol, methanol, bio-diesel, synthetics and even hydrogen. But availability, delivery to the end user, and sometimes price remain obstacles to their widespread acceptance. Federal programs have helped promote the use of alternate fuels to help clean the environment and to conserve energy. At the federal level, the EPA’s Clean Air Act and the CAA Amendment of 1990 target air quality improvements for noncompliance areas of our nation plus offer benefits to fleets using alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) in support of clean air.