METHANOL AS AN AUTOMOTIVE FUEL. PROBLEMS AND EXPECTATIONS

In view of the exhaustion of crude oil reserves within the next 30 years, substitute motor fuels must be found. Methanol can be produced from coal by existing techniques, and it can also be made from waste and refuse. Methanol can either be mixed with lead-free petrol, or used in the pure state in vehicles with modified carburettors and fuel systems. Disadvantages are: (1) since energy value is lower, larger quantities must be stored and handled; (2) cold starting characteristics are unsatisfactory; (3) phase separation in winter, and vapour lock in summer may occur; (4) costs of production from coal are high at present; (5) methanol is toxic; (6) it can cause corrosion and deterioration of elastomers. It is however believed that methanol will be very attractive in the intermediate future as a motor fuel, and also as a fuel for power generation. /TRRL/

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/9170821097
• Corporate Authors:

  Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences

  Grev Turegaton 14, P.O. Box 5073
  S-102 42 Stockholm 5,   Sweden 
• Authors:
  • BERNHARDT, W
• Publication Date: 1976

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: p. 11-24
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Ingenioersvetenskapsakademien (IVA)
  • Publisher: Ingenioersvetenskapsakademien (IVA)
  • ISSN: 9170-821097

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohols; Coal; Conferences; Corrosion; Costs; Crude oil; Elastomers; Energy; Energy conservation; Evaluation and assessment; Fuels; Manufactures; Methanol; Motor fuels; Properties of materials
• Geographic Terms: Sweden
• ITRD Terms: 7347: Alcohol; 8525: Conference; 5252: Corrosion; 224: Cost; 212: Energy conservation; 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 3850: Fuel; 3647: Manufacture; 5925: Properties; 8109: Sweden
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Finance; Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; Vehicles and Equipment; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00164256
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Report/Paper Numbers: Report Number 195 Analytic
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 30 1978 12:00AM