Performance evaluation of alcohol-gasoline blends in 1980 model automobiles. Phase II. Methanol-gasoline blends. Final report

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6249324

The Coordinating Research Council, Inc. (CRC) conducted a test program designed to define the emissions, fuel economy, drive-ability, and vapor-lock characteristics of both simple and volatility-adjusted ethanol-gasoline (Phase I) and methanol-gasoline (Phase II) blends versus gasoline. The fuels were tested in 1980 model-year cars representing various emission-control technologies using test procedures accepted by the federal government and industry. This report details the methanol-gasoline blends portion of the program. Six unleaded fuels were used for this phase of the program: a reference gasoline and five methanol blends. The methanol-gasoline blends had oxygen contents ranging between 1 and 8 wt.%, and included fuels with and without isobutanol co-solvent. Ten of the fourteen 1980 model cars from the Phase I portion of the program were re-used in Phase II, following renovation, reinspection, and acceptance by CRC. The study showed that methanol in gasoline affected most vehicle performance parameters. Organic and carbon monoxide tailpipe emissions were reduced, but effects on other emissions, driveability, and fuel economy were generally adverse with methanol at the higher concentrations. Another experimental program is needed to define the response of vehicle performance factors to fuel characteristics such as oxygen content and volatility, which this program strongly suggests are the two most influential on vehicle performance.

• Research Organization: Coordinating Research Council, Inc., Atlanta, GA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6249324
• Report Number(s): AD-A-159893/7/XAB; CRC-536
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
ALCOHOLS
MIXING
AUTOMOTIVE FUELS
PERFORMANCE
GASOLINE
AIR POLLUTION
EMISSION
FUEL CONSUMPTION
MIXTURES
OXYGEN
VOLATILITY
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
FUELS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LIQUID FUELS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLLUTION
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330700 - Advanced Propulsion Systems- Emission Control
295000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Hydrogen & Synthetic Fuels