Energy conservation benefits incidental to microemulsion fuel use
Microemulsion fuels have small droplets, usually 2 to 100 nanometers diameter, of a non-continuous phase mixture dispersed in base fuel. The dispersed phase consists of a mixture of a surfactant, which can be a fatty acid soap, and water, often with an alcohol added to increase stability. Microemulsions provide a unique opportunity to modify engine performance by changing fuel composition and combustion, including emissions. Although microemulsion fuel physical characteristics are very similar to those of the neat base fuel, they can contain up to 25% biomass-derived materials. Opportunities for conservation using microemulsion fuels include petroleum sparing, distillate fuel extension during a petroleum supply interruption, and decreased energy cost of emissions control. For example, if microemulsion fuels technology can be developed sufficiently to permit application, it could be used to provide 3 to 8 billion lb of distillate fuel extenders from routinely stored agricultural materials during a petroleum supply interruption. Similar technology has promise for providing diesel fuels which have lowered NO/sub x/ and particulate emissions, effectively using a group of biomass materials to extend distillate fuel by direct energy replacement and by decreasing the energy expended in emissions controls. A successful technology might save 0.1 to 0.3 Quads in projected emissions control energy while substituting 0.5 to 0.6 Quads of biomass-derived materials for petroleum at the turn of the century. Recommendations for key research required to determine the most effective uses of this technology are explored in detail. 14 refs., 6 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 6899831
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/TM-10882; ON: DE88015425
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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ALCOHOLS
BIOMASS
COLLOIDS
COST
DATA
DISPERSIONS
DISTILLATES
EMULSIONS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ETHANOL
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL CONSUMPTION
FUEL ECONOMY
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
FUELS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
METHANOL
MICROEMULSIONS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM DISTILLATES
PETROLEUM FRACTIONS
RECOMMENDATIONS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES