ALTERNATE FUELS FOR AUTOMOBILES

Research on alternative fuels relating to alcholol, fuel from biomass, gasoline of modified composition, hydrogen, and synthetic fuels are reported. Studies have confirmed the feasibility of using alcholo/gasoline blends as well as neat alcohols in engines; the major problems relate to fuel volatility anbd cold starts. The 2 alcohols under investigation are ethyl alcohol and methyl alcohol. Research in Brazil has centered on the fermentation products of sugar cane. Two bioconverson processes with commercial potential are: anaerobic digestion of organic waste to generate methane and bacterial fermentation to yield ethanol. Research is also underway to formulate a special gasoline blend optimized for starting and first mile economy. An important consideration in alternate fuel research is fuel tolerance; it would be advantageous to use more than one fuel in emergencies. Feasibility studies indicate: gasoline from oil shale, distillate oils from oil shale or coal and gasoline/alcohol blends for near term (through 1985); gasoline from coal or oil shale, distillate oils from coal or oil shale and methanol from coal for the mid term (1985-2000); and gasoline from coal or oil shale, distillate oils from coal or oil shale, methanol from coal and hydrogen for the far term (beyond 2000).

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  Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

  3 Park Avenue, 17th Floor
  New York, NY  United States  10016-5997
• Publication Date: 0

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 60-61
• Serial:
  • IEEE Spectrum
  • Volume: 14
  • Issue Number: 11
  • Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
  • ISSN: 0018-9235

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohols; Automobiles; Bacteria; Biodeterioration; Blends; Coal; Development; Feasibility analysis; Fuels; Gasoline; Hydrology; Methanol; Oil shales; Organic deposits; Research; Synthetic fuels
• Uncontrolled Terms: Research and development
• Old TRIS Terms: Anerobic bacteria; Substitutes
• Subject Areas: Energy; Geotechnology; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Materials; Research; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00167622
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 27 1977 12:00AM