DIESEL-ETHANOL FUEL BLENDS INVESTIGATED

If ethyl alcohol (ethanol) is blended with diesel fuel, it will reduce engine power output, increase fuel consumption per unit of work, delay combustion, and increase engine noise. These conclusions were reached during a recent study on the feasibility of blending ethanol with diesel fuel for diesel-powered farm tractors. A farm tractor diesel engine could possibly be fueled to varying degrees with ethyl alcohol using one of these options: substitute alcohol for the usual diesel oil; carburate or inject alcohol into the intake air to supply a certain proportion of the fuel required, with the remainder of the charge being normally injected diesel oil; premix diesel oil and alcohol before introducing the blend to the tractor's fuel system. The first of these options would completely change the tractor's fuel management picture. The second has been investigated by others using metahnol, ethanol, and LP gas. The third area has been periodically researched with spark ignition engines (and is the source of current "gasohol" interest).

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/2240909
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Publication Date: 1979-9

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 58-61
• Serial:
  • Automotive Engineering
  • Volume: 87
  • Issue Number: 9
  • Publisher: Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
  • ISSN: 0098-2571

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Agricultural equipment; Agriculture; Alcohols; Blends; Combustion; Diesel engines; Diesel fuels; Ethanol; Fuel consumption; Gasohol; Methanol; Performance; Power; Spark ignition engines; Truck tractors
• Uncontrolled Terms: Agricultural machinery
• Old TRIS Terms: Agricultural; Diesohol
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00324876
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 15 1981 12:00AM