Studies on the utilization of alcohol for aviation fuel

Technical Report · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1945

OSTI ID:6124121

Yamamoto, T

The main problems encountered when ethanol was used as an aviation fuel were corrosion, predetonation, and low volatility. To prevent corrosion, sodium arsenite was added due to its availability, although dibutyl amine showed superior results. In general any aliphatic amine showed good results in preventing corrosion. To prevent detonation many additives were tried. Tetraethyl lead lowered the antiknock properties of alcohol. Iron pentacarbonyl and diethyl selenide proved effective; 0.3% of the iron pentacarbonyl yielded an octane rating of about 100. Unfortunately continued use of the iron additive caused fouling due to iron oxide buildup. Blending additives such as ethyl bromine failed to remoe the oxide. Selenide compounds, although effective against detonation, were given up due to scarcity of selenium. The greatest problem was that of volatility. The fuel was only partially vaporized in the carburetor; the remainder was small droplets which tended to adhere to the wall of the manifold. Blending with 20% ethyl ether showed the same volatility as ordinary aviation fuel, but increased detonation. Ethanol with 30% acetone or isopropyl ether gave similar volatility. Methanol blends had no effect. Water decreased the volatility. Aviation gasoline with 25% ethanol showed maximum volatility due to azeotrope formation. Gasoline properties could shift the maximum from 10% to 30% alcohol. When temperatures were below 20/sup 0/C, engines could not be restarted in the air without addition of 3% ethyl ether to the alcohol fuel.

• OSTI ID: 6124121
• Report Number(s): TOM-231-698-701
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

090210* -- Alcohol Fuels-- Properties-- (1976-1989)
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
ACETONE
ALCOHOLS
ANTIKNOCK RATINGS
ARSENIC COMPOUNDS
ARSENIDES
AVIATION FUELS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COMPRESSORS
CORROSION
ENGINES
ENTHALPY
ETHANOL
ETHERS
ETHYL ETHER
FUELS
GASOLINE
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
KETONES
MIXING
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PNICTIDES
SELENIDES
SELENIUM COMPOUNDS
SPARK IGNITION ENGINES
SUPERCHARGERS
TESTING
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION HEAT
VAPOR CONDENSATION
VAPORIZATION HEAT