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Alternative Fuels

Alternative Fuels. Alternative Fuels. Ethanol Methanol Propane Natural gas Soy-diesel Electric Hybrid electric Fuel cells. Ethanol C 2 H 6 O. Produced from the distillation of grain or other biomass Octane rating of 111

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Alternative Fuels

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  1. Alternative Fuels

  2. Alternative Fuels • Ethanol • Methanol • Propane • Natural gas • Soy-diesel • Electric • Hybrid electric • Fuel cells

  3. Ethanol C2H6O • Produced from the distillation of grain or other biomass • Octane rating of 111 • Since it is an oxygen-carrying compound, it can produce more power than gasoline when used in the same engine • It has slightly fewer BTU/gallon than gasoline meaning that fuel mileage will be reduced slightly if no internal engine modifications are made • 80,000 BTU/gallon vs. Gasoline 109,000 BTU/gallon • Shell station in Tomah (E85–$1.54 regular-$1.66 )

  4. Methanol CH4O • Simplest of alcohols • Distilled from coal or natural gas • 113 octane • Highly corrosive • 56,000 BTU/gallon

  5. Propane • Vaporizes at a low temperature • Low emissions • 84,000 BTU/gallon • 104 octane

  6. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) • 130 octane • Must be stored in high pressure tanks (2400-3000 PSI) • 38,000 BTU/gallon

  7. Soy-diesel (Bio-diesel) • Can be used in current diesel engines with no modifications • 120,000 BTU/Gallon • Bio-degradable and relatively non-toxic • Lower emission levels than petroleum based diesel • High lubricity

  8. Electric Vehicles

  9. Electric Vehicles

  10. Batteries • Batteries are currently the “weak link” in electric vehicles • Battery pack weighs over 1000 pounds • Lead acid battery • $2,000 • Lifespan of 200 complete charges • Range approximately 50 miles • 10 hour recharge time • Nickel metal hydride (NiMH) • $20,000 • Thousands of charge cycles • Double the range of lead acid batteries

  11. Battery Recharging

  12. Battery Recharging Inductive Paddle

  13. Regenerative Braking • Many electric vehicles use regenerative braking • When the brakes are applied the electric motor converts from being a power source to being a generator • The load from the motor producing electricity helps slow the vehicle • The electricity produced from the motor when braking is used to charge the batteries

  14. Fuel Cell Technology • Fuel cells produce electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen • Water and heat are the by-products

  15. Proton Exchange Membrane Animation

  16. Problems With Hydrogen • Hydrogen is not very dense (uncompressed it is approximately 1/3000th as dense as gasoline) • If compressed it requires very heavy tanks and very low storage temperature • Production of hydrogen requires the use of electricity, which is normally created by burning coal (a fossil fuel)

  17. Fuel Reformers • Fuel reformers are used to overcome the problems associated with hydrogen storage • A liquid or gaseous fuel is stored in the vehicle, and on demand it is run through a fuel reformer which chemically extract hydrogen from the fuel • Methanol and CNG are commonly used in fuel reformers

  18. Methanol Reformer • A mixture of methanol and water vapor is passed through a heated chamber containing a catalyst • As the methanol (CH3OH) hits the catalyst it split into carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas (CO + H2 + H2) • The water vapor splits into hydrogen and oxygen (H2 + O) • The oxygen combines with the carbon monoxide to create carbon dioxide (CO2) • End Result (CH3OH + H2O) = (CO2 + H2 + H2 +H2)

  19. Alternative Powerplant Efficiency • Internal combustion reciprocating engine • Thermal efficiency 33% • Mechanical efficiency 85% • .33 x .85 = 28% total efficiency • Fuel cell – electric • Fuel cell efficiency (wo/reformer) 80% • Fuel cell efficiency (w/reformer) 40% • Electric motor/inverter efficiency 80% • W/reformer .40 x .80 = 32 % total efficiency • Wo/reformer .80 x .80 = 64% total efficiency Data from www.howstuffworks.com

  20. Alternative Powerplant Efficiency • Battery – electric • Coal power plant efficiency - 40% • Charging efficiency – 90% • Inverter/motor efficiency – 72% • .40 x .90 x .72 = 26% total efficiency Data from www.howstuffworks.com

  21. Hybrid Cars • A hybrid vehicle uses two or more power sources to power the vehicle • Diesel – electric locomotive • Nuclear – electric submarine • Gasoline – electric car

  22. Types of Hybrid Cars • Parallel • Either the electric motor or the gasoline engine can power the transmission at any time • Series • The electric motor is the only power source connected to the transmission • The gasoline engine is connected to a generator which keeps the battery charged and can provide extra electricity during peak demand

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