alternative fuels

1. RAJIV GANDHI INSTITUTE OF
TECHNOLOGY
BANGALORE – 560 032
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING

2. ALTERNATE FUELS FORALTERNATE FUELS FOR
AUTOMOBILESAUTOMOBILES

3. INTRODUCTION
 The increase in energy consumption particularly in the past several
decadeshasraised fearsof exhausting vital natural resources.
 Rapid industrialization and massivegrowth in population has
increased thedependenceand useof natural fuels.
 Approximately 90% of our energy requirement aremet by fossil fuels.
 Studiessuggest that if exploited at thesamerate, thecoal reserveswill
depletein thenext 200-300 yearsand petroleum depositswill deplete
in thenext few decades.
 So, it isimportant for usto engagein research and development of
alternativefuelsso wemay not facescarcity of natural resourcesin the
future.

4. Alternative Fuels :Alternative fuel, also known as
non-conventional fuels, is any material or substance that
can be used as a fuel, other than fossil fuels, or
conventional fuels.
 The term "alternative fuels" usually refers to a source of
which energy is renewable.
Alternative fuels include :
• Methanol and ethanol (Alcohol fuels).
• Natural gas(compressed or liquefied).
• Hydrogen.
• Biodiesel.
• Electricity (Batteriesand Fuel Cells).

5. METHANOLMETHANOL
Methanol: is an alcohol fuel. The primary alternative
methanol fuel being used is M-85, which is made up of
85 percent methanol and 15 percent gasoline.
 In the future, neat methanol (M-100), may also be
used.
 Methanol is created from a synthesis gas (hydrogen
and CO), which is reacted in the presence of a catalyst.
CO2 + 3H2 → CH3OH + H2O
Methanol can also be produced from non-petroleum
feed-stocks such as coal and biomass.
 Emissions from M-85 vehicles are slightly lower than
in gasoline powered vehicles.

6.  Smog-forming emissions are generally 30-50 percent
lower; NOx and hydrocarbons emissions from M-85
vehicles is slightly lower.
 However, CO emissions are usually equal or slightly
higher than in gasoline vehicles.
 Advantages:
• High octane and performanc characteristics.
• Lower emissions
• Lower risk of flammability
• Methanol can be used to easily make hydrogen
• Can be used in flexible fuel vehicles.
• Methanol as a fuel in spark-ignition engines can offer an
increased thermal efficiency and increased power output
(as compared to gasoline) due to its high octane and high
heat of vaporization.

7. ETHANOLETHANOL
 It is a renewable energy source.
 Ethanol is an alcohol made by fermenting from a variety
of feedstock such as sugar cane, potatoes, sweet potatoes,
molasses, corn, etc.
 The liquid ethanol or ethyl alcohol can be used as a fuel
when blended with gasoline or when its in original states.
 Methanol is made by fermenting almost any material that
contains starch and other farm plants and wastes are also
suitable.
 There are three primary ways that ethanol can be
used as a transportation fuel:
As a blend of 10% ethanol with 90% gasoline.
Use directly as a fuel with 15% gasoline known as E- 85.

8.  It has approximately 30-50% fewer smog forming
emissions than a gasoline vehicle.
 Air toxics are also reduced by about 50 percent when
compared to gasoline.
 As with all internal combustion engines, vehicles using
ethanol emit minor amounts of aldehydes. This is resolved
by installing advanced catalytic converters on the vehicles.
 Advantages Of Ethanol:
Higher latent heat vaporization
Higher flash point.
No hazardous component.
Higher compression operation of the engine.
Output and efficiency.
Increased safety during use.

9. The 1996 Ford Taurus was the first
flexible fuel vehicle produced with
versions capable of running with either
ethanol (E85) or methanol (M85) blended
with gasoline.
The 2003 VW Gol 1.6 Total Flex was the
first commercial flexible-fuel vehicle in
the Brazilian market, capable of running
on any mixture of gasoline (E20 to E25
blend) and ethanol (E100).

10. NATURAL GASNATURAL GAS
 Natural gas is a mixture of hydrocarbon mainly methane
(CH4).
 Natural gas is primarily extracted from gas wells or in
conjunction with crude oil production; it can also be
produced as a "by-product" of landfill operations.
 It can be stored on a vehicle either in a compressed
gaseous state (CNG) or in a liquefied state (LNG).
 A natural gas vehicle can be less expensive to operate
than a comparable conventionally fueled vehicle
depending on natural gas prices.
 In India CNG costs less than petrol.

11.  CNG is made by compressing natural gas (which is mainly
composed of methane [CH4]), to less than 1% of the
volume it occupies at standard atmospheric pressure
 It is stored and distributed in hard containers at a pressure
of 200–248 bar (2900–3600 psi), usually in cylindrical or
spherical shapes.
1.CNG is the cheapest, cleanest and least environmentally
impacting alternative fuel.
2.Vehicles powered by CNG produce less
carbonmonoxide and hydrocarbon (HC) emission.
3.It is less expensive than petrol and diesel.
4.The ignition temperature of CNG is about 550°C.
5.CNG requires more air for ignition

12.  The use of CNG is mandated for the public transport
system of India's capital New Delhi as well as for the city
of Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarat.
 The Delhi Transport Corporation operates the world's
largest fleet of CNG buses.
 Natural gas has low CO emissions, virtually no PM
(particulate matter) emissions, and reduced volatile
organic
compounds.

13.  Natural gas contains less carbon than any other fossil
fuel, leading to lower CO2 emissions per vehicle mile
traveled.
 Advantages:
1. Its cheap
2. It’s Engine-Friendly
3. It’s safe
4. Lower emissions
5.Lower smog producing gases (60-90% Light-Duty use,
90% in Mid to Heavy-duty use)
6.Can be used to make hydrogen to power the future fuel
cell technology.

14. LPG FUELLPG FUEL

15.  The LPG run vehicles have lower emission of reactive
hydrocarbons (about one-third less), NOx (20 percent
less), and CO (60 percent less) than gasoline vehicles.
A propane-fueled school
bus in the United States.

16. Advantages:
1.LPG consists of hydrocarbons, so it burns cleanly
without leaving any residue.
2.The LPG (hydrocarbons) has higher calorific value than
the other gaseous fuels containing H2 or CO. The calorific
value is 7 times higher than coal gas and 3 times higher
than natural gas.
3.LPG is characterized by high thermal efficiency
and heating rate.It is easy to manipulate.
4.Comparatively it is less of health hazard, even in case of
leakage.
5.Needs little care for maintenance.
6.It is free from CO, so it is less hazardous

17. The Brazilian Fiat Siena
Tetrafuel1.4, the first multifuel car
that runs as a flexible-fuel on pure
gasoline , or E25, or E100; or runs as
a bi-fuel with natural gas (CNG)
Buses powered with CNG are
common in the United States.

18. BIODIESELBIODIESEL
 Biodiesel is a fuel made from vegetable oil, animal fats,
and used restaurant grease.
 Although, it can be used as a straight replacement to
diesel, the blend of biodiesel to diesel can be as low as
20% biodiesel, 80% diesel.
 Biodiesel can be produced through a transesterfication
process, forming fatty esters.
 One of the byproducts of production is glycerol, which can
then be sold as an independent product.
 Biodiesel has no aromatic content and only trace amounts
of sulpur.

19.  In vehicle tests, it has lower emissions of carbon monoxide
and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons than conventional
diesel. With adjustments in the injection engine timing, it
is possible to reduce the Nox emissions.
 In a blended state with traditional fuel it can lower
emissions such as a 20% blend lowers CO2 emissions by
15%.
 100% Biodiesel can lower CO2 emissions by 75%.
 Biodiesel produces fewer particulate matter, carbon
monoxide, and sulpur dioxide emissions.
 It’s safe to store, handle, and transport cause of a high
flash point of 150 degrees Celsius instead of 77 degrees
Celsius for traditional fuels.

20. ADVANTAGES:
• Biodiesel is environmentally friendly.
• It can help reduce dependency on foreign oil.
• It helps to lubricate the engine itself, decreasing engine
wear.
• It can be used in almost any diesel with little or no engine
modification.
• It is safer than conventional diesel.

21. HYDROGEN FUELHYDROGEN FUEL
 Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe,
but it does not exist by itself In nature.
 Instead, it is found bonded to other elements in compounds
such as water, natural gas, coal, or biological material.
 Hydrogen can be produced from a number of different
sources, including natural gas, water, methanol etc. Two
methods are generally used to produce hydrogen:
(1) Electrolysis
(2) Synthesis gas production from steam reforming or
partial oxidation.
 Hydrogen and oxygen from air fed into a proton exchange
membrane fuel cell produce enough electricity to power an
electric automobile, without producing harmful emissions.
The only byproduct of a hydrogen fuel cell is water

22.  When burned in an internal combustion engine, small
amounts of nitrogen oxides and small amounts of unburned
hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide are produced, due to
the use of engine lubricants.
Advantages:
• Hydrogen is the perfect fuel to run fuel cells cause pure
hydrogen reacts only with oxygen releasing water thus no
emissions.
• Hydrogen burns more efficiently and creates energy more
efficiently than gasoline.
• Hydrogen has high self-ignition temperature but requires
very little energy to ignite it.
• As a fuel it is very efficient as there are no losses
associated with throttling.

23. Hydrogen fueling station
inCalifornia.
The 2009 Honda FCX
Clarity is an hydrogen fuel
cell automobile launched to the
market in 2008.

24. ELECTRIC CARSELECTRIC CARS
 Electricity is a type of energy,Electricity is used as fuel in
the form of batteries and fuel cells.
 Batteries are the storage "tanks" for electricity, and the
quantity of potential power available from them is given
by the battery rating.
 Battery powered electric vehicles are almost zero
emission vehicles. Fuel cell emissions, using hydrogen as
the fuel, are water vapor and heat.
 Batteries are a source of power but have limited range and
require frequent charging and are more suited to short
range community use.

25.  Fuel cells do not store energy; instead chemical energy is
converted into electricity. An external source of
hydrogen (for example, from natural gas, gasoline, or one
of the alcohol fuels) and oxygen (from air) are fed to the
fuel cell. The electrolyte fuel cells employ the
electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to
generate electricity.
 Fuel Cells are more promising because they use other
fuels to create the electrical energy.
 If pure hydrogen is used the car produces only two by-
products Water and Heat.
 Range of a dedicated electric is typically 50-130 miles.

26. ADVANTAGES:
• Readily available.
• Relatively cheaper.
• Zero pollution.
• For electric cars it would mean no emissions.
• Although batteries have a short range, vehicles that use
them can be used in communities to get around.
• For fuel cells, if hydrogen is used it can have a longer
range vehicle with no emissions.

27. The Nissan Leaf is the world's top selling
highway-capable all-electric car in history,
with global sales of about 140,000 units by
early October 2014.

28. CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION
 Alternative fuels generally lower emissions making them
appealing for environmental concerns.Many of these fuels
are renewable and would lessen the need for petroleum
products.
 A lot of these fuels are going to be used with the
developing fuel cell technology. With making the public
aware of these alternatives it could hasten the development
of these fuels and the technologies to run them.
 The alternative fuel sources are environment-friendly as
opposed to fossil fuels.

29.  By using alternative sources we can reduce, Air pollution,
soil pollution and water pollution.
 Using alternative fuel helps diminish Global Warming.
 Due to technological advancements vehicles are made with
improved fuel efficiency and also perfect hybrid vehicle
are available.
 Throughout the year these sources are available without
affecting the Environment.
 Helps conserve natural resources.
 Thus, it is important to compare all types of fuels, in order
to determine the best ones, economically and
environmentally short term and long term. For this we
need to develop alternative fuels.

30. Reference
 "Automobiles and Truck Trends". Plunkett
Research Archived from the original on 22
July 2011.
 John Sousanis (2011-08-15).
"World Vehicle Population Tops 1 Billion Units"
.
 John Voelcker (2014-10-03). "Toyota
Racks Up 7 Million Hybrids Sold Since

31. Honda Press Release (2012-10-15). "Cumulative worldwide
sales of Honda hybrids passes 1 million units“.
 Roger Schreffler (2014-07-14). "Toyota Strengthens Grip on
Japan EV, Hybrid Market".
Roger Schreffler (2014-08-20). "Toyota Remains
Unchallenged Global Hybrid Leader".
Green Car Journal Editors (1994). "Cars On Alcohol, Part 9:
Corn Based Ethanol in the US".
Paul Dever (January 1996). "Alternative Fuel Ford Taurus".
1996 North American International Auto Show Press Release.

32. Pike Research (2011-09-14). "Pike Research predicts
68% jump in global CNG vehicle sales by 2016”.
 Christine Lepisto (2006-08-27). "Fiat Siena Tetra
Power: Your Choice of Four Fuels“.
 Sherry Boschert (2006). Plug-in Hybrids: The Cars that
will Recharge America.
Crouse WH, and Anglin DL, (1985), Automotive
Engines, Tata McGraw Hill.
 Eastop TD, and McConkey A, (1993), Applied
Thermodynamics for Engg. Technologists, Addison
Wisley.
 Fergusan CR, and Kirkpatrick AT, (2001), Internal
Combustion Engines, John Wiley & Sons.

33. Questions..??Questions..??
“THANK YOU”