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U.S. Department of Energy
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Isobutanol Octane Blending Model with Gasoline: Cooperative Research and Development Final Report, CRADA Number CRD-17-00689

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1765598· OSTI ID:1765598

The purpose of this agreement between the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Gevo, under the DOE Small Business Vouchers Pilot, is to develop a predictive octane blending model for isobutanol and blendstocks for oxygenated blending (BOBs). Validated models of ethanol octane blending effects are currently used in refinery blending models. While it is known that isobutanol increases octane when blended into BOBs, the effect is non-linear, and dependent on hydrocarbon blendstock properties. Because no predictive model currently exists for isobutanol and BOBs, blenders must perform expensive and time-consuming tests to determine the octane effect on each batch of finished fuel. NREL will make basic measurements of research octane number (RON) and motor octane number (MON) of finished gasoline-isobutanol blends prepared in a broad range of BOBs. The key properties and detailed composition of BOBs utilized will be measured by NREL. Using these measured fuel properties, NREL will develop a predictive octane blending model for isobutanol in BOBs that can be used by terminals to further reduce barriers to market penetration of isobutanol.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Bioenergy Technologies Office (EE-3B)
DOE Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1765598
Report Number(s):
NREL/TP--5400-78962; MainId:32879; UUID:9ee7818b-882d-44ed-a819-b3af69144074; MainAdminID:19241
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English