CATALYTIC IGNITION OF AQUANOL

Aqueous fueled engines have the potential for lower emissions and higher engine efficiency than engines fueled with gasoline or diesel fuels. Past attempts to burn aqueous fuels in over-the-road vehicles have been unsuccessful due to difficulties in initiating combustion under varying environmental conditions. Ethanol-water mixtures, called Aquanol, require no special emulsifications to create and should provide significant emission reductions in CO and NOx, while producing no net CO2 emissions. Aldehydes, a part of the hydrocarbon emissions, are expected to increase with alcohol-based fuels. Understanding what parameters affect aldehyde formation will help create reduction strategies. Detailed detection of exhaust emissions is necessary for a quantitative comparison. Redundant measurements with two special purpose detectors will be used for emission comparisons. A van supplied by Valley Transit of Lewiston, Idaho has been converted to catalytic ignition. In order to make the vehicle operate on either gasoline or Aquanol, modifications to the fuel handling, engine management, and ignition system were necessary. A three-part vehicle test plan is currently underway to compare performance, fuel economy, and emissions between Aquanol and gasoline fuels.

• Corporate Authors:

  National Institute for Advanced Transportation Technology

  University of Idaho, Moscow
  115 Engineering Physics Building
  Moscow, ID  United States  83844-0901

  Research and Special Programs Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Steciak, J
  • Beyerlein, S
  • Clarke, E
  • Cordon, D
  • Patel, A
  • Wang, X
  • Williams, J
• Publication Date: 2003-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 72 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aldehydes; Alternate fuels; Carbon dioxide; Carbon monoxide; Ethanol; Exhaust gases; Fuel conservation; Fuel consumption; Measurement; Nitrogen oxides; Performance; Test vehicles
• Uncontrolled Terms: Aquanol; Catalytic ignition
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment; I95: Vehicle Inspection;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00960149
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: NIATT Report N03-04,, Final Report
• Contract Numbers: DTRS98-G-0027
• Files: UTC, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 22 2003 12:00AM