Why Can't We Use Normal Alcohols for Vehicle Fuel?

  • Thread starter banerjeerupak
  • Start date
In summary: Methanol would be a better option than ethanol because it is cheaper and more available. It also has a higher energy content than ethanol. Biodiesel would be a better option than petroleum diesel because it has a higher content of biodiesel than petroleum diesel.
  • #1
banerjeerupak
123
1
Why can we not use normal alcohols such as ethanol or methanol for the purpose of running our vehicles?
is there any particular problem?
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
  • #2
Cost and availability.
 
  • #3
what do you mean by cost and availibility.
its cheaper to produce alcohol from sugar and other waste products. methanol is hell cheaper than oil
 
  • #4
I don't know about ethanol, but there's no physical reason not to use methanol. Lots of vehicles run on it already, including high-power racers, and even 25 years ago Mohawk gasoline was blended with it. I had to use that in my Roadrunner to boost the octane level. There would be engine tuning modifications needed for the pure stuff.
One potential problem is a safety issue. Alcohol burns with invisible flames, so passengers and rescue workers wouldn't know if there was a vehicle fire in the event of a crash or a fuel spill at a filling station. Maybe an additive would cure that.
 
Last edited:
  • #5
Of course the first big reason is infrastructure. We just don't have the capability to make enough alcohol for everyone right now.

The next big reason is the chemical energy stored in them. Because gasoline has excellent energy density (as does diesel), vehicles running off of alcohols will get worse gas mileage. biodiesel's energy content is also lower than petro-diesel, which accounts for why diesels trucks running off of biodiesel get worse mileage; however, the drop is less significant than gasoline to ethanol, and biodiesel has a much higher content than alcohol. Hydrogen is an even worse option in terms of combustion, because it only contains about 12 kilojoules per liter at STP, far less than any of the other options.

Gasoline- 34.2 MJ/L
Diesel- 38.60 MJ/L

BioDiesel- 32.97 MJ/L

Hydrogen- 12 kJ/L

Methanol- 15.912 MJ/L
Ethanol- 21.1 MJ/L


here is an interesting presentation in PDF form that compares several different alternative fuel sources:
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/pdfs/bulk_hydrogen_stor_pres_sandia.pdf
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #6
One of my profs at colledge (fuel and enrgy are not his field) recently pointed out that if we converted every inch of unused ground here in the US to the growth of corn, and used all that corn just to make alchahaul, we could produce enough to supply approximately 1/10 of our consumption.

Rather daunting, but this fellow may not be completely reliable for information on this topic (I think he may b a bit of a conspiracy theorist).
 
  • #7
Maybe not exactly the right numbers Lurch, but the fact that we don't have nearly enough arable land to develop an alcohol economy based upon traditional methods are well documented, i.e. it's a valid point.
 
  • #8
I too accept that all the world's fuel needs cannot be run on alcohol as there is not enough land space. However, it is not entirely impossible to create one. Would it be cheaper to run?
Milage apart, it would also have a lower price than the present price of petrol. In the race for hybrid cars, why is this option not being utilised?
 
  • #9
banerjeerupak said:
I too accept that all the world's fuel needs cannot be run on alcohol as there is not enough land space. However, it is not entirely impossible to create one. Would it be cheaper to run?
Milage apart, it would also have a lower price than the present price of petrol. In the race for hybrid cars, why is this option not being utilised?

Alcohol cars are not being pursued as aggressively as other options for the exact reasons above, i.e. we already told you. The possibility of it being cheaper is useless, because we wouldn't be able to make enough alcohol in the first place.
 
  • #10
Here in CA alcohol cars would receive tickets for driving drunk.
 
  • #11
:smile: :smile:
 
  • #12
Banerjeerupak, conventional fuels are not inherently expensive. Taxation and politics have more to do with the price of petrol than well to wheels production costs.
 
  • #13
So that's why my 100 mpg carbeurator never got...
Never mind...
 
  • #14
got your point... but do tell me about the milage that such a fuel would be able to give in a normal engine. that's the reason i got onto this
 
  • #15
banerjeerupak said:
got your point... but do tell me about the milage that such a fuel would be able to give in a normal engine. that's the reason i got onto this
Refer to this, particularly page 2

http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/pdfs/fueltable.pdf

Comparison of gasoline, diesel, methanol, ethanol and other fuels.

Methyl Tert Butyl Ether would be great energywise, but it is carcinogenic and has contaminated water supplies in areas where it is used as a gasoline additive.

Methonal is toxic and fatal if a sufficient amount is ingested.
 
  • #18
I forgot all about this post.

Thanks for the linK Darren.
 
  • #19
Hydrogen

The future is and should be hydrogen from renewable sources. If u take a small part of the american desert (small by comparison) and build electrical/thermal power plants u would be able to generate enough electricity for homes and enough electricity to produce hydrogen at a value not so much more expensive than oil. If you use all the american desert i think u can cover the whole world. I wrote my senior year book in mechanical engineering about this subject, and did an all out engineering and cost research. The infrastructure is present for hydrogen, because all u need to do is modify existing fuel stations. so its not about the price or infrastructure, its about actually doing it.
 
  • #20
AIAA Daily Launch said:
In a front-page story, the Wall Street Journal (5/21, A1, Dreazen, subscription required) reports, "With fuel prices soaring, the U.S. military, the country's largest single consumer of oil, is turning into an alternative-fuels pioneer." The Journal notes, "The U.S. military consumes 340,000 barrels of oil a day," and "[t]he Defense Department's overall energy bill was $13.6 billion in 2006, the latest figure available -- almost 25 percent higher than the year before." There is also concern that the military's "dependence on oil represents a strategic threat." The result of these factors is tests such as the recent flight of "a B-1 stealth bomber code-named Dark 33," which "confirm[ed] for the first time that a plane could break the sound barrier using synthetic jet fuel."
Synthetic fuels research picked up during the 70's and 80's during the previous fuel crisis. The research level rises and falls with the price and supply of oil and alternatives.
 

FAQ: Why Can't We Use Normal Alcohols for Vehicle Fuel?

Why can't we use normal alcohols like ethanol for vehicle fuel?

The main reason is that normal alcohols have a lower energy density compared to gasoline or diesel. This means that they contain less energy per unit volume, resulting in a shorter driving range for vehicles. Additionally, normal alcohols can cause corrosion and damage to certain engine parts, which can be costly to repair.

Is it safe to use normal alcohols as vehicle fuel?

While normal alcohols are generally safe to use, there are some safety concerns. Ethanol, for example, is highly flammable and can pose a fire hazard if not handled properly. There are also concerns about the potential for alcohol-fueled vehicles to emit harmful pollutants such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde.

Are there any benefits to using normal alcohols as vehicle fuel?

Yes, there are some benefits to using normal alcohols as vehicle fuel. They are renewable resources, meaning they can be produced from plants and crops, reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. They also have a lower carbon footprint compared to gasoline and diesel, which can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

What are the main challenges in using normal alcohols as vehicle fuel?

One of the main challenges is the infrastructure needed to support widespread use of normal alcohols as vehicle fuel. This includes storage facilities, transportation networks, and fueling stations. Another challenge is the high cost of producing and distributing normal alcohols, which can make them less economically viable compared to traditional fuels.

Can normal alcohols be blended with gasoline or diesel?

Yes, normal alcohols can be blended with traditional fuels, and this is already being done in some parts of the world. For example, ethanol is commonly blended with gasoline to create E10 (10% ethanol, 90% gasoline) or E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline). These blends can help reduce emissions and decrease our dependence on fossil fuels while still maintaining a similar energy density to pure gasoline.

Similar threads

Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
934
Replies
24
Views
2K
Replies
10
Views
2K
Replies
10
Views
2K
Replies
22
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
20
Views
3K
Back
Top