Emission-reduction effects of methanol vehicles: State of knowledge

Technical Report · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6716680

Singh, M K; Sekar, R R

Methanol-fueled vehicles are currently the subject of considerable interest as various national and local options are being considered to address the country's air quality problems. This report evaluates the emissions from several types of methanol-fueled vehicles and qualitatively assesses the potential effects of methanol fuel use on ambient air quality. The evaluation is based on the results of more than 50 recent tests of methanol-fueled vehicles and the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) most recent assessment of the emissions effects of these vehicles. The emissions from methanol use in three forms in spark-ignition engines and six potential applications in compression-ignition engines are reviewed. The greatest benefit from neat-methanol-fueled or flexible-fuel vehicles is the lower reactivity of their volatile organic compound emissions relative to gasoline-fueled vehicles, thus potentially reducing the contribution of mobile pollution sources to the formation of ozone. The primary advantage of methanol blends is the reduction in carbon monoxide emissions relative to gasoline-fueled vehicles. Finally, nitrogen oxide and particulate emissions are substantially reduced in the various neat methanol applications to heavy-duty diesel engines. Methanol may thus provide a means of meeting the EPA's stringent 1991-1994 particulate regulations for heavy-duty diesel engines and vehicles. 70 refs., 15 tabs.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA). Energy and Environmental Systems Div.
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6716680
• Report Number(s): ANL/EES-TM-352; ON: DE89001148
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330100 -- Internal Combustion Engines
330800* -- Emission Control-- Alternative Fuels
500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR QUALITY
ALCOHOL FUELS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DIESEL ENGINES
DIESEL FUELS
EMISSION
ENGINES
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
EXHAUST GASES
FLUIDS
FUELS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
GASOHOL
HEAT ENGINES
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
LIQUID FUELS
METHANOL FUELS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLLUTANTS
SPARK IGNITION ENGINES
SYNTHETIC FUELS
VEHICLES
WASTES