Rajan Wilcox
Alcohol-based fuels have been used in cars for over a hundred years, with the first US gasoline-powered car being aware of an alcohol-fuelled experimental car in 1826. The use of alcohol fuel in cars has been of particular interest due to its potential to reduce toxic emissions and its high fuel efficiency. The most common types of alcohol used as car fuel are methanol and ethanol, which can be derived from fossil fuels, biomass, or carbon dioxide and water. Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, is a toxic, colourless, and tasteless liquid that has been used as a racing fuel and is currently being considered as a future biofuel. Ethanol, on the other hand, has been the primary alcohol fuel used in countries like Brazil, where it is produced by fermenting sugarcane.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Types of Alcohol Fuel | Methanol, Ethanol, Butanol |
| Sources | Fossil Fuels, Biomass, Carbon Dioxide and Water |
| Advantages | High octane rating, improved fuel efficiency, reduced toxic emissions, higher voltage |
| Disadvantages | Corrosivity, increased aldehyde emissions, incompatibility with existing fuel systems |
| History | Used in early racing cars, exhibited at the 1907 Jamestown, Virginia tricentennial, taxed and subsidised in various countries |
| Safety | Easier to extinguish than gasoline, less intense fire |
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What You'll Learn
Ethanol: a popular fuel for internal combustion engines
Ethanol, a type of alcohol fuel, is an important fuel for the operation of internal combustion engines used in cars, trucks, and other machinery. Ethanol was first isolated from wine in approximately 1100 and was soon found to burn. These early solutions distilled from wine-salt mixtures were referred to as aqua ardens or flaming water. By the 13th century, the development of the cooling coil allowed the isolation of nearly pure ethanol by distillation.
Ethanol has been widely used as a fuel for racing cars due to its safety benefits. It is harder to ignite than gasoline and burns at a much cooler temperature and slower rate. This makes it easier to extinguish with water-based fire extinguishers. Additionally, ethanol has a high-octane rating, which increases fuel efficiency and results in a comparable "fuel economy" in terms of distance per volume metrics.
Brazil was, until recently, the largest producer of ethanol in the world, typically fermenting ethanol from sugarcane. The country produces a total of 18 billion litres annually, of which 3.5 billion litres are exported, with 2 billion going to the US. Alcohol cars debuted in the Brazilian market in 1979 and became popular due to heavy subsidies. However, in the 1980s, gasoline regained market share due to rising prices.
In recent years, alcohol has increased its market share again due to new technologies involving flexible-fuel engines. Ethanol has also proved popular as an oxygenate additive to gasoline, particularly in North America. In 1998, the US Post Office ordered 10,000 post vans with ethanol capability from Ford. These vehicles are very durable and fuel-efficient, showcasing the potential for ethanol as a viable alternative fuel.
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Methanol: a toxic, colourless liquid
Methanol, or CH3OH, is a toxic, colourless liquid often referred to as "wood alcohol". It has been used as a vehicle fuel since the 1930s, primarily as a replacement for gasoline in high-performance engines. Methanol is the simplest alcohol, with a single carbon atom per molecule. It is also the simplest molecule of the two major alcohol fuels, the other being ethanol.
Methanol has been proposed as a future biofuel, and it has a long history as a racing fuel. Early Grand Prix Racing used pure methanol or blended mixtures. Methanol is a possible biofuel when the syngas it is derived from is derived from biomass. It can also be produced from sustainably sourced biomass, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen electrolysis using nuclear power, geothermal power, or other renewable energy sources.
Methanol is highly toxic and dangerous to handle. It requires a unique fuel delivery system as it corrodes most existing fuel systems. It is, however, the fuel of choice for most alcohol-based fuel cells. Methanol is also more efficient than gasoline, with a higher octane rating, and a larger percentage of the energy released by combustion of a litre of methanol can be converted to useful work.
Methanol can be produced in a variety of ways, including from synthesis gas, biomass, carbon dioxide, and water or steam. It can also be produced from the gasification of coal or the steam reforming of natural gas. Methanol is inexpensive to produce, with production costs around half that of petroleum fuels in Canada.
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Butanol: a higher-energy-density alternative to ethanol
The predominant liquid fuel is gasoline, but the growing demand for carbon-neutral energy sources has fueled the search for biofuel alternatives. Currently, ethanol is the most widely used biologically generated fuel. However, ethanol has a low energy density and is difficult to transport in pipelines.
Butanol, on the other hand, has a higher combustion energy density than ethanol. It can be used as a fuel in internal combustion engines and is more similar to gasoline than ethanol. Butanol is a C4-hydrocarbon drop-in fuel, which means it works in vehicles designed for use with gasoline without requiring any modifications. It can be produced from biomass ("biobutanol") or fossil fuels ("petrobutanol"). The chemical properties depend on the isomer (n-butanol or isobutanol), not the production method.
The net energy released per cycle is higher for butanol than ethanol or methanol and about 10% higher than gasoline. Butanol has about 1.5 times more volumetric energy content than ethanol. It also has decreased water solubility, which means it can be both an additive to fuel and a standalone fuel source. As a fuel source, butanol can be used in conventional engines, which is a considerable advantage as it does not require specialized vehicles. Butanol is more hydrophobic than ethanol, making it compatible with the existing fuel infrastructure and pipelines.
However, one challenge for biobutanol is that more ethanol can be produced from a bushel of corn. Additionally, butanol has a lower octane rating than ethanol and methanol, which means it is more prone to knocking and will lower efficiency.
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Brazil: the world's largest producer of alcohol fuel
Brazil has a long history of using alcohol fuel, also known as ethanol, which is produced by fermenting sugarcane. With an annual production of 18 billion litres (4.8 billion gallons), Brazil was, until recently, the largest producer of alcohol fuel in the world.
The use of ethanol as a fuel source in Brazil can be traced back to the 1970s. In 1979, alcohol-powered cars were introduced to the Brazilian market and quickly gained popularity due to heavy subsidies. However, in the 1980s, rising prices led to a decline in the market share of ethanol, with gasoline regaining dominance.
Despite this setback, Brazil remained committed to ethanol production and its potential as a renewable energy source. In the early 2000s, Brazilian car manufacturers revived the use of ethanol fuel by introducing a new generation of bi-fuel petrol/alcohol vehicles. These cars were designed to be flexible-fuel, capable of running on either petrol or ethanol. This innovation not only reduced Brazil's dependence on imported oil but also helped to meet tightening emissions standards.
Brazilian ethanol has also gained traction internationally, with 3.5 billion litres exported annually, 2 billion of which are exported to the United States. The popularity of Brazilian ethanol can be attributed to its high octane rating, which improves fuel efficiency, and its ability to reduce toxic emissions such as NOx, CO, HC, and particulates.
Brazil's success in ethanol production and its adoption as a fuel source have positioned it as a global leader in renewable energy. With a focus on sustainability and environmental concerns, Brazil continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of alternative fuels and the world biofuel economy.
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History: alcohol fuel dates back to the 1100s
The use of alcohol as fuel dates back to the 12th century when ethanol was first isolated from wine and found to burn. These early solutions distilled from wine-salt mixtures were called "burning water" or "flaming water" and burned without producing noticeable heat. By the 13th century, the development of the cooling coil allowed the isolation of nearly pure ethanol by distillation. Ethanol has been used for lamp oil, cooking, and warming food and travellers.
In the 19th century, alcohol was used to power automobiles, farm machinery, and a wide range of household appliances in Europe. Alcohol-fuelled engines started to be used in farm machinery in Europe in the 1890s, making countries more fuel independent. By 1896, cars were appearing on roads in Europe and the United States, and racing cars often used ethanol as it allowed for more power in a smaller, lighter engine.
In 1901, the French Ministry of Agriculture offered prizes for the best alcohol-fuelled engines, and in 1902, an exhibition in Paris showcased alcohol-powered cars, farm machinery, and various household appliances. In 1906, the Free Alcohol bill was passed in the USA, repealing the tax on alcohol and making corn ethanol cheaper than gasoline. In 1909, the U.S. Geological Survey reported that alcohol fuel had advantages over gasoline, including reduced smoke and disagreeable odours.
In the 20th century, the demand for ethanol increased due to the phasing out of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) and the desire to decrease dependence on imported oil. In 2005, the first Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) became law in the United States, providing for increased ethanol production. Today, ethanol is an important fuel for the operation of internal combustion engines used in cars, trucks, and other machinery.
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Frequently asked questions
Alcohol fuel is a type of renewable energy source that can be used to power internal combustion engines in cars, trucks, and other machinery. It has been used for hundreds of years and was first isolated from wine around 1100.
Alcohol fuel has a number of benefits over gasoline, including reduced toxic emissions, higher fuel efficiency, and improved engine efficiency. It is also safer, as it burns at a lower temperature and is easier to extinguish if a fire occurs.
The most common types of alcohol used for car fuel are methanol and ethanol. Methanol is the simpler molecule and can be produced from biomass or carbon dioxide, while ethanol is typically produced through the fermentation of sugars. Butanol is another type of alcohol that has a higher combustion energy density than ethanol.
Alcohol fuel has been used in racing cars for many years due to its safety benefits and ability to develop more power in a smaller, lighter engine. It has also been used in Brazil since 1979 and gained popularity due to new technologies involving flexible-fuel engines. However, gasoline is still the more commonly used fuel type due to its lower cost and wider availability.
One of the biggest concerns with commercializing alcohol for car fuel is its compatibility with various metals due to its acidic form, moisture absorption, and oxygenated nature. Methanol, in particular, is more dangerous to handle than ethanol and requires a different fuel delivery system as it corrodes existing fuel systems.
