Reformed methanol

Technical Report · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6725182

Finegold, J G; McKinnon, J T; Karpuk, M E

This paper describes the design and testing of an automotive fuel system that provides hydrogen-rich gases to an internal combustion engine by catalytically cracking, or dissociating, methanol on board the vehicle. The vaporization and dissociation of methanol absorb heat from the engine exhaust and increase the lower heating value of the fuel by approximately 22%. In addition, raising the compression ratio and burning with excess air increase the engine thermal efficiency. Engine dynamometer test results with dissociated methanol demonstrated improvements in brake thermal efficiency compared to gasoline of up to 50% depending on engine speed and torque. Lower speeds and torques produce the largest improvements. This paper presents maps of exhaust temperature and exhaust heat content. The exhaust temperature is almost always high enough for dissociation to occur, but, at lower power outputs, there is only enough exhaust energy for partial dissociation of the methanol. This concept also applies to combustion turbines. Steam reformed methanol allows higher efficiency and more power compared to petroleum fuels, liquid methanol, or dissociated methanol. The hydrogen-rich gases do not require cooling before entering the turbine. This paper presents an analysis of the potential technical and economic advantages of this approach along with an outline of a recently initiated experimental program to verify them.

• Research Organization: Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-77CH00178
• OSTI ID: 6725182
• Report Number(s): SERI/TP-235-1774; ON: DE83002096
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330800* -- Emission Control-- Alternative Fuels
ALCOHOLS
AUTOMOBILES
CATALYTIC CRACKING
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CRACKING
DATA
DECOMPOSITION
EFFICIENCY
ELEMENTS
ENERGY
ENGINES
EXHAUST GASES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUIDS
FUEL ECONOMY
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
FUEL SYSTEMS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HEAT
HEAT ENGINES
HYDROGEN
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
METHANOL
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
OPERATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PYROLYSIS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
THERMAL EFFICIENCY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
VEHICLES
WASTE HEAT
WASTE HEAT UTILIZATION
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION
WASTES