WATER AND ALCOHOL USE IN AUTOMOTIVE DIESEL ENGINES. ALTERNATIVE FUEL UTILIZATION PROGRAM

A review has been made of the current technology of water and alcohol use in automotive diesel engines. Emphasis has been placed on assessing engine test results for seven methods of using alcohols as supplements or complete replacements for petroleum-based diesel fuel. The methods investigated include the dual-fuel techniques of emulsification, blending, fumigation, and dual-injection, and the monofuel techniques of cetane number improvement, spark ignition, and ignition by electrically heated surfaces or glow plugs. With the exceptions of alcohol/diesel fuel blends and heated surface ignition, all methods have been applied to prototype vehicles and proved successful to some extent in field tests of cars, trucks, buses, or tractors. The changes observed, relative to normal diesel fuel use, in power, fuel consumption, thermal efficiency, and exhaust emissions are documented. Other factors evaluated include diesel fuel displacement by alcohol in specific vehicles and projections of potential domestic fuel savings throughout the transportation sector; fuel cost increases; changes in vehicle system hardware, durability, driveability, and safety; and additional study needs. (ERA citation 09:007826)

Corporate Authors:
Aerospace Corporation

2350 East El Sequdo Boulevard
El Sequndo, CA United States 90245
Authors:
- Donnelly, J J
- White, H M
Publication Date: 1983-9

Media Info

Pagination: 189 p.

Subject/Index Terms

TRT Terms: Alcohols; Alternate fuels; Diesel engines; Diesel fuels; Economic efficiency; Exhaust gases; Field tests; Fuel consumption; Fuel injection; Water
Uncontrolled Terms: Efficiency
Old TRIS Terms: Dual fueling; Substitutes
Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; Vehicles and Equipment; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

Accession Number: 00386718
Record Type: Publication
Report/Paper Numbers: DOE/CS/50286-4
Files: TRIS
Created Date: Jul 30 1984 12:00AM