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Diesel – Electric Vehicles. Mike Warmack HC 399 – Hybrid, Electric, and Fuel Cell Vehicles November 18, 2008. What is diesel? Petroleum diesel (petrodiesel) is a heavy distillate from crude oil Chemical composition ranges from C 9 H 20 to C 16 H 34
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Diesel – Electric Vehicles Mike Warmack HC 399 – Hybrid, Electric, and Fuel Cell Vehicles November 18, 2008
What is diesel? • Petroleum diesel (petrodiesel) is a heavy distillate from crude oil • Chemical composition ranges from C9H20 to C16H34 • Gasoline ranges between C5H12 and C8H18 • Used in diesel engines, designed by Rudolf Diesel in 1892 • Can alternatively be produced from biomass, coal liquidification Diesel 101 walbrofuelpump.org, Retrieved 11/11/08
How does it compare to gasoline? • Can be produced from hydrocarbons with transesterification • Not as explosive as gasoline, fewer vapors Diesel Gasoline Energy content 129,000 BTU 117,000 BTU Specific gravity 7.09 lbs. / US gal. 6.01 lbs. / US gal. Engine compression 20 : 1 8 : 1 Current avg. price $2.94 / US gallon $2.22 / US Gallon Proportional cost 61 % from crude 67 % from crude Diesel 102 Engine efficiency 40 % 25 % (Otto Cycle) eia.doe.gov, afdc.energy.gov, encarta.msn.com Retrieved 11/11/08
How does it work? • Similar to a gasoline engine’s cycles: • Intake – pulls in air and fuel into the cylinder • Compression – piston reduces the volume • Ignition – a spark plug ignites the gas and volume expands • No spark plug in diesel, combusts under higher compression • Exhaust – piston reduces the volume with valves open Diesel 103 nwwin.com Retrieved 11/11/08
What are the advantages of using diesel? • Fuel Economy • Higher compression ratio results in more efficient combustion • Slower depreciation • Diesel power trains tend to last longer • More torque and power • Good for acceleration and towing • Longer cylinder stroke for compression, larger crankshaft • Tax benefits • Qualify for similar alternative vehicle tax incentives as hybrids • ~ $1,500 tax credit • Biofuels are easy to use • Any diesel vehicle can use biodiesel with simple conversion kit Diesel 201
What are the disadvantages of using diesel? • Vehicle availability (private vehicles) • Higher emission standards are difficult to design for • Fuel availability • Not all service stations carry diesel (private vehicles) • US refineries produce less diesel, smaller supply • Emissions • Less CO2 emissions from more efficient combustion • Particulate and NOx emissions are greater • Price • In private vehicles, diesel can cost $1K-5K more • Emissions controls are expensive • Diesel fuel is taxed more in the United States Diesel 202 autos.yahoo.com Retrieved 11/17/08
Pickup Trucks Mass Transportation motortrend.com, Retrieved 11/17/08 Commercial Trucking Common Diesels portlandonline.com, Retrieved 11/17/08 • Need to haul large loads • Higher torque for towing • Better fuel economy for power driverscdlstaffing.com, Retrieved 11/17/08
What is diesel-electric? • The diesel-electric system is usually serial • Not necessarily hybrid, no energy storage • A diesel engine drives a electric generator • Electric motors are directly connected to propulsion • Why not directly connect the engine to propulsion? • Complex systems necessary to connect to one engine • Extensive gearing required to stay in power band • Why is diesel-electric used? • The diesel is used to generate electricity efficiently • Electric motors don’t need gearing to be efficient Diesel-Electric 101
Shipping – Azimuth Thrusters Rail Locomotives Common Diesel-Electrics siemens.com, Retrieved 11/17/08 Lostworld.pair.com, Retrieved 11/17/08 • Large chassis – Able to house equipment • Large loads – Need lots of power • Multiple drives – Propellers, drive axels • Less aesthetic – For industrial use • Diesel-electric meets all of their needs
Are they different than gasoline-electric hybrids? • Recapture kinetic energy and store for later use • Monitor idling • Will operate in a serial hybrid system • About 25% less fuel consumption • Why current diesel-electrics are ideal for hybrid technology • Able to accommodate additional equipment • Not as concerned about size • Matches efficiency with more efficiency • Other benefits • Smaller engine that is only run at maximum efficiency • Improved acceleration • Quieter, no idling, no startup plume Diesel-Electric Hybrids jcwinnie.biz, Retrieved 11/17/08
Diesel-Electric Hybrid Buses jcwinnie.biz, Retrieved 11/17/08 • Similar buses used in Seattle, San Francisco, Eugene
Projected benefits of diesel-electric hybrid buses • 37% less CO2 • Up to 50% less nitrogen oxide • Up to 50% less particulates • About 25% less fuel consumption • Problems • Not a mature market • Design not perfected • Maintenance facilities will need to train on new tech Diesel-Electric Hybrid Buses jcwinnie.biz, Retrieved 11/17/08
Railpower Technologies – Green Goat • Rail yard switch locomotive • High idle time, stop and go • 2000 HP • 80% reduction of NOx • In production railpower.com, Retrieved 11/17/08 DE Hybrid Locomotives • GE Ecomagination Locomotive • Long-haul locomotive • Equivalent to removing 1/3 cars • Not in production ge.ecomagination.com, Retrieved 11/17/08
Volkswagen Golf TDI Hybrid • Parallel hybrid • 70 mpg • Realistic concept wired.com, Retrieved 11/17/08 Personal Diesel Hybrids • Citeron C4 • Parallel/Dual mode • 69 mpg • Europe in 2010 autoblog.com, Retrieved 11/17/08
Why not invest in all-electrics? • Gap between oil economy and next step • Progression in efficiency • Gasoline -> diesel • Diesel -> diesel-electric • Diesel-electric -> DE hybrids • DE hybrids -> full-electric • Proven technology • Minimal change in infrastructure • Service stations • Delivery • Refining • Better range than electric vehicles • Diesel easier to use in extreme environments • Commercial will resist /never change to 100% electric • Not economic • Compromise with DEH DE Thoughts
Diesel vs. ethanol • Ethanol has about half efficiency of gasoline, third of diesel • Expensive engine controls to convert to ethanol/flexfuel • Biodiesel can be used with minimal conversion to engines • Ethanol has similar profile to gasoline and is closed cycle • Biodiesel can be a closed cycle process • Diesel emissions controls can limit particulates, NOx • Higher diesel cost related to use • Higher cost will encourage efficiency • In turn, better technology • Also, more efficient means of use (train vs. truck) • Greater awareness of environmental impacts • Political will DE Thoughts
http://www.hybridcars.com/ • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel-electric • http://ge.ecomagination.com • http://www.tdiclub.com/ • http://www.edmunds.com/ • http://www.vw.com/ • http://www.autobloggreen.com/ DE Websites