Single-cylinder engine study of methanol fuel: emphasis on organic emissions

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · SAE Prog. Technol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6607935

Hilden, D L; Parks, F B

Exhaust emission and performance characteristics of a single-cylinder engine fueled with methanol are compared to those obtained either with gasoline or a methanol-water blend. Our measurements of engine efficiency and power, and CO and NO/sub x/ emissions agree with trends established in the literature. Consequently, the emphasis is placed on organic emissions (unburned fuel including hydrocarbons, and aldehydes), an area in which there is no consensus in the literature. In all cases with methanol fueling, the unburned fuel (UBF) emissions were virtually all methanol as opposed to hydrocarbon compounds. Without special measures to overcome methanol's large heat of vaporization, UBF emissions were four times greater with methanol than those with gasoline. Similarly, aldehyde emissions were an order of magnitude greater with methanol. These high levels of organic emissions with methanol were related to inadequate fuel-air mixture preparation, which was caused by methanol's large heat of vaporization. Modifying the single-cylinder engine intake system to improve vaporization reduced UBF emissions 80 to 90% with methanol and 30 to 50% with gasoline. Aldehyde emissions were also significantly reduced by improving mixture preparation, but remained three to four times greater for methanol than for gasoline. Blending 10% water with methanol resulted in: (1) reduced engine efficiency and power, (2) increased UBF emissions, (3) no measurable effect on aldehyde and CO emissions, and (4) reduced NO/sub x/ emissions. Our tests indicate that the advantages of blending water with methanol are outweighed by the disadvantages.

• OSTI ID: 6607935
• Conference Information: Journal Name: SAE Prog. Technol.; (United States) Journal Volume: 19
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

090210 -- Alcohol Fuels-- Properties-- (1976-1989)
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330700 -- Advanced Propulsion Systems-- Emission Control
330800* -- Emission Control-- Alternative Fuels
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
ALCOHOL FUELS
ALDEHYDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
DATA
EFFICIENCY
ENGINES
ENTHALPY
EXHAUST GASES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUIDS
FUELS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
GASOHOL
GASOLINE
HEAT ENGINES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
LIQUID FUELS
METHANOL FUELS
MODIFICATIONS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
SYNTHETIC FUELS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION HEAT
VAPORIZATION HEAT
WASTES
WATER