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The Hydrogen Economy
Published in Michael Frank Hordeski, Alternative Fuels—The Future of Hydrogen, 2020
Methanol is already used as an auto fuel. It has been the fuel of choice at the Indianapolis 500 for more than three decades, partly because it improves the performance of the cars, but it is also considered much safer as it is less flammable than gasoline. When it does ignite, it causes less severe fires. A study for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concluded, that the use of methanol can result in a 90% reduction in the number of automotive fuel-related fires compared to gasoline. Methanol also seems to biodegrade quickly when spilled, and it dissolves and dilutes rapidly in water. It has been recommended as an alternative fuel by the EPA and the DOE, partly because of reduced urban air pollutant emissions compared to gasoline. Most methanol-fueled vehicles use a blend of 85% methanol and 15% gasoline called M85.
Air pollution and transport in China and India
Published in Junyi Zhang, Cheng-Min Feng, Routledge Handbook of Transport in Asia, 2018
Lei Yu, Guohua Song, Xumei Chen
– Though theoretically methanol can be made from any organic material, it is most commonly produced from coal and natural gas for cost reasons. Methanol is currently used in dedicated vehicles or blended at a range of ratios with gasoline (most commonly M5 to M85). In California, when methanol fuel was promoted during the 1990s, methanol vehicles mainly used M85 with 15% gasoline. In China, most so-called methanol vehicles to date have been normal gasoline engine vehicles that use M15 as the motor fuel. Methanol vehicles may reduce certain regulated air pollutants and the potential air quality benefits from using methanol remains one of the key drivers for promoting its use. An M85 pilot program in California from 1980 to 1990 showed that manufacturers could produce M85 that met California’s Low Emission Vehicle Standards, with non-methane organic gas emissions less than 0.125 g/mile, reduce NOx and CO emissions, especially from heavy-duty engines, dramatically reduce PMs compared with traditional gasoline vehicles, and almost eliminate all air toxins except formaldehyde. However, there are several barriers to the use of methanol as a motor fuel. Combustion of methanol emits a great deal of toxic formaldehyde, which is classified as a carcinogen by the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Alcohol Fuels
Published in M.R. Riazi, David Chiaramonti, Biofuels Production and Processing Technology, 2017
Gnouyaro P. Assima, Ingrid Zamboni, Jean-Michel Lavoie, M.R. Riazi, David Chiaramonti
Methanol is probably one of the simplest chemicals to be produced out of syngas and, because of this simplicity, it is gaining a lot of attention directly as a fuel or as its simple condensation derivative, dimethyl ether (DME). The current worldwide capacity for the production of methanol is estimated to be 33 billion gallons or 90 billion liters per year (Methanol Institute 2016). Methyl alcohol market value varies according to geographical location, with its highest value at $275US/MT in the Asia-Pacific region, followed by $266US/MT in North America, and $240US/MT in the United States (Methanex 2016). Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, is considered an alternative fuel in the United States under the Energy Policy Act of 1992. Although its fuel properties are similar to ethanol, its use in vehicles was reported to decline since the early 1990s (U.S. Department of Energy 2016). Methanol production is expected to increase in the upcoming years by as much as 26% by 2020 because of its logical link with natural gas (Morris 2016). Such assumptions come from the recent contract signed by the two methanol giants, Chesapeake Energy Corp. and Methanex Corporation, for a 10-year natural gas supply. In 2015 and 2016, the capacity for methanol production increased by 16,800 MT per year and 15,235 MT per year, respectively. Utilization of methanol as fuel has already begun in China, and M10 and M85 are already being used in thousands of vehicles (European Biofuels Technology Platform 2016).
A detailed study of IC engines and a novel discussion with comprehensive view of alternative fuels used in petrol and diesel engines
Published in International Journal of Ambient Energy, 2021
I. Vinoth Kanna, M. Arulprakasajothi, Sherin Eliyas
Pure methanol is labelled M100, and a mix of 85% methanol and 15% gasoline is labelled M85. M85 has an octane rating of 102. Adding gasoline to methanol provides more volatile components that can vaporise more easily at low-temperatures. Methanol has been adopted as a racing fuel, both for performance and safety reasons. Since methanol mixes with water, a methanol fire can be extinguished with water, which is not the case with gasoline. The octane rating of methanol M100 of 111 RON allows use of an increased compression ratio. The relatively high enthalpy of evaporation (1215 kJ/kg) of methanol relative to gasoline (310 kJ/kg) produces greater intake air-cooling and a corresponding increase in volumetric efficiency relative to gasoline. The energy density by volume of methanol is about half that of gasoline. However, because of its oxygen content, it has a higher stoichiometric energy density (3.09 MJ/kg air) relative to gasoline (2.96 MJ/kg air).