Methanol/ethanol/gasoline blend fuels demonstration with stratified charge engine vehicles. Final report
Four 1978 Honda CVCC vehicles have been in regular use by California Energy Commission staff in Sacramento for 12 months. Three of the unmodified vehicles were fueled with alcohol/gasoline blends (5% methanol, 10% methanol, and 10% ethanol) with the fourth remaining on gasoline as a control. The operators did not know which fuels were in the vehicles. At 90-day intervals the cars were returned to the University of Santa Clara for servicing and for emissions and fuel economy testing in accordance with the Federal Test Procedures. The demonstration and testing have established the following: (1) the tested blends cause no significant degradation in exhaust emissions, fuel economy, and driveability; (2) the tested blends cause significant increases in evaporative emissions; (3) analysis of periodic oil samples shows no evidence of accelerated metal wear; and (4) higher than 10% alcohols will require substantial modification to most existing California motor vehicles for acceptable emissions, performance, and fuel economy. In addition, many aspects of using methanol and ethanol fuels, both straight and in blends, in various engine technologies are discussed. Recommendations include: (1) a study of the feasibility of storing large quantities of methanol and ethanol for blending with gasoline to mitigate any future short-term gasoline shortage emergency; (2) straight alcohol fuel development for captive fleet operation with new vehicles selected to represent future vehicle technology and modified to optimize emissions, performance, and fuel economy; and (3) comprehensive photochemical reaction chamber testing to characterize the contribution of both straight alcohol and blend fuel exhaust and evaporative emissions to photochemical smog and particulate aerosol production.
- OSTI ID:
- 5485520
- Report Number(s):
- NP-24426
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
330100 -- Internal Combustion Engines
330800* -- Emission Control-- Alternative Fuels
ALCOHOLS
AUTOMOTIVE FUELS
CALIFORNIA
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DATA
DATA FORMS
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
ENGINES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ETHANOL
EVALUATED DATA
EXHAUST GASES
FEDERAL TEST PROCEDURE
FUEL ECONOMY
FUELS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASOHOL
GASOLINE
GRAPHS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
METHANOL
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
PERFORMANCE
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
STRATIFIED CHARGE ENGINES
TABLES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
USA
WASTES
WESTERN REGION