1 a Name possible alternate fuels for future use in IC engin

1.
(a) Name possible alternate fuels for future use in IC engines.
(b) Write down the advantages and disatvantages of methanol as an IC engine fuel.

Solution

1. (a) Possible Alternative Fuels for IC engine

i. Alcohol Fuels: Methanol, Ethanol

ii. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)

iii. Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG)

iv. BioDiesel

v. Hydrogen

vii. Biomass

vii. Ammonia

viii. Compressed air

(b) Advantages of Methanol

i. Methanol is less expensive to produce sustainably

ii. Less expensive way to reduce the carbon footprint

iii. Methanol offer an increased thermal efficiency and increased power output (as compared to gasoline) due to its high octane rating.

iv. When methanol is burned, it forms more moles of exhaust gases, which gives higher pressure and more power in the expansion stroke.

v. It has high latent heat of vaporization which results in a cooler intake process. This raises the volumetric efficiency of the engine and reduces the required work input in the compression stroke.

vi. Methanol has low sulphur content in the fuel

vii. Minor modifications are rquired in the gasoline engine to run it on methanol.

Disadvantages of Methanol

1. Methanol has low energy content or in other words the calorific value of the fuel is almost half. This means that almost twice as much as gasoline must be burned to give the same energy input to the engine. Automobiles as well as distribution stations would require twice as much storage capacity.

2.Combustion of methanol produces more aldehydes in the exhaust. Aldehyde emissions can be a serious problem.

3. Methanol is much more corrosive than gasoline on copper, brass, aluminum, rubber, and many plastics. This puts some restrictions on the design and manufacturing of engines to be used with this fuel. Fuel lines and tanks, gaskets, and even metal engine parts can deteriorate with long-term alcohol use.

4. It has poor cold start behavior due to low vapor pressue and evaporation. Methanol fueled engine has difficulty in starting below 10 degreeC temperature.

5. Methanol has invisible flame which is considered dangerous when handling fuel.