A TECHNICALPAPERPRESENTATION

ON

RECENTADVANCEMENTSIN

BY

L.M. SRINATH.KURAPATI Y5ME278

SANTOSH RAVI TEJA. G Y5ME272

Email:[email protected]

[email protected]

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

KONERU LAKSHMAIAH COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

GREENFIELDS,VADDESWARAM,GUNTURDt.

ABSTRACT Considering current production capacity and consumption rate, it is obvious that fossil fuel will not remain for many years. As a remedy for the fast depleting fossil fuels scientists have found alternative fuels. These Alternate fuels were not only as a substitute for the conventional fossil fuels but also help mankind to save the mother environment from the hazardous effects of harmful gases that will be emitted by the use of fossil fuels. Alternate fuels seem to be a most promising option for countries like India because of its availability from agriculture products. Till now, there are many alternate fuels found, such as Ethanol, Butanol, Bio fuel etc and now in this presentation we are going to deal the recent advancements in the field of alternate fuels. They are the P-SERIES FUELS and WATER BASED FUELS. And as an enhancement we are also going to see the advantages offered by these fuels over the fossil fuels such as reduction in harmful effects, subsequent efficiencies and their applications. INTRODUCTION: In this hi-fi and fast going generation the use of automobiles has increased tremendously over the past decade as they are believed to be the efficient transport equipment and this has probed the humankind for the extraneous use of fuels (in which fossil fuels take the lions share).These fuels are mostly polymers of hydrogens and carbons and their combustion (needed to produce energy) produces harmful gases which are hazardous to the environment (particularly to the protective shield ozone layer ). And this made the intellectuals to think about the supporting fuels to the environment and they are named as ALTERNATE FUELS . Now lets define alternative, its an adjective that means a choice between two or more things. And fuel its a substance consumed to produce energy or power. Putting it together, the definition of alternative fuel is the choice of any fuel other than the traditional selections, gasoline and diesel.

Why should we go for Alternative? The use of alternative fuels greatly reduces harmful exhaust emissions like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter. Another calling card for alternative fuels is that they can often be produced domestically using a countrys resources and that in turn strengthens the economy. Alternative fuels are more essential for developing countries like India because most of alternative fuels came from agricultural products.

Factors probing production of alternate fuels:

Transportation's Dependence on Petroleum and Issues Relevant to Energy Supply and Price

This portal can be divided into two categories 1. The extensive use of fossil fuels in transportation 2. the threat of depletion of fossil fuels

Based on information collected by the EIA in 1999, world crude oil reserves amount to about 1,000 billion barrels, and world natural gas reserves amount to about 5,140 trillion cubic feet. Of this total the Persian Gulf region holds about two-thirds of the entire world's known oil reserves addition to concern about concentration of oil resources, new concerns have recently been raised that the peak in oil production could occur within ten years. Economic growth in the Pacific Rim is giving rise to a growth in world oil demand that could well lead to a short-supply situation within the next five to ten years. Regardless of when the peak is reached, crude oil prices are likely to increase significantly in advance of peak production. Unfortunately, unlike other energy using sectors, which have introduced substitute fuels and fuel switching flexibility, remains overwhelmingly dependent on petroleum-based fuels. In light of this dependence of the transportation sector on petroleum (and recent sharp increases in the price of gasoline), it is clear that substitution of petroleum-based transportation fuels (gasoline and diesel) by non-petroleumbased fuels could be a key means of reducing the vulnerability of the transportation sector to disruptions of petroleum supply can bestow significant economic benefits by reducing the global demand and price for oil. Displacing petroleum with alternative and replacement transportation fuels helps hold down petroleum prices in two ways.

First, reducing the demand for petroleum decreases the world price for oil. A second benefit of increased alternative and replacement fuel use is its potential to reduce the impact of a supply shortage on prices.

Environmental aspects:

This is the most important factor reckoning the future generations warning them about their surroundings and the environment .according to the statistics the increase in the use of the fossil fuels has tremendously changed the composition of the earths atmosphere and causing many changes such as improper seasonal changes, improper rainfall, the depletion of the ozone layer Etc,. which in turn lead to many other painful effects .and these effects will surely bane out the future of the coming generations. And we ourselves at present sensing these effects up to some extent, and this is expected to rise over the coming years. And the live example that can be quoted is the ozone hole over the South Pole that is increasing day by day. And as a result most of the polar ice caps are being melted away due to the direct exposal to the suns rays, and the ultraviolet rays reach the earth without any screening has shown its colors in various forms such as decrease in soil fertility, skin cancers .So there is a sincere responsibility in our hands to reduce the depletion of ozone layer and it may be taken one of the wonderful steps will be the creation of alternate fuels.

Availability of Alternative Fuels:

The National Energy Policy Development Group, in its May 17, 2001, report on the National Energy Policy states that, "The lack of infrastructure for alternative fuels is a major obstacle to consumer acceptance of alternative fuels and the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles. The report's discussion of alternative fuel vehicles includes the statement that, "ethanol vehicles offer tremendous potential if ethanol production can be expanded."

Some of the Alternate Fuels:

Ethanol: Ethanol is an alcohol fuel that's derived mainly from grain. Methanol: Methanol is an alcohol fuel that's derived primarily from coal. Blends: A transitional fuel, blends are mixtures of traditional and alternative fuels, such as E85 and B20.

Natural Gas: A by-product of oil drilling and coal mining, natural gas can also be harvested from natural gas fields.

Propane: Also known as liquefied petroleum gas, propane is a by-product of natural gas and crude oil refining.

Hydrogen: Most commercial hydrogen is refined from petroleum, but can also be made by passing electricity through water (electrolysis).

Electricity: Electricity is considered an alternative since it is used to power the motors in electric vehicles.

Biodiesel: A diesel fuel replacement or additive, biodiesel is made from vegetable oil or animal fat. Now lets discuss in detail about the three recent advancements in the field of alternate

fuels, they are the P-SERIES FUELS and WATER BASED FUELS. P-SERIES FUELS:

P-series fuels are blends of ethanol, methyl tetra hydro furan (MTHF), and

Pentanes plus, with butane added for blends that would be used in severe cold-weather Conditions to meet cold start requirements.

Composition, production and Technical Aspects: It is anticipated that both the ethanol and the MTHF will be derived from renewable resources, such as waste cellulosic biomass that can be derived from waste paper, agricultural waste and urban/industrial wood waste. Pentanes plus that are derived from the processing and production of natural gas, as opposed to those derived from refining processes can be used. . Pure Energy Corporation holds the exclusive worldwide license to manufacture and distribute the P-series fuels, which were developed by Dr. Stephe. Pure Energy Corporation, will be producing ethanol and MTHF through an integrated production process. Pure Energy Corporation expects to utilize commercially proven concentrated acid hydrolysis processing as its base technology for this integrated production process. MTHF is currently produced in limited quantities from furfural (derived from both biomass and petroleum feed stocks) for use as a specialty chemical in consumer end products and/or process industries. Pure Energy Corporation has developed a thermo chemical technology to produce MTHF from cellulosic feed stocks through a levulinic acid pathway, integrating it with an ethanol production system to achieve technical and economic efficiencies. In this process, the lignocellulosic feedstock is converted into both five- and six-carbon sugars, which are then bifurcated into fermentation and thermochemical pathways to produce ethanol and MTHF, respectively. the volumetric percentages of each of the components of the P-series fuels can range from 10 percent to 50 percent for pentanes plus; from 15 percent to 55 percent for MTHF; from 25 percent to 55 percent for ethanol; and from zero to 15 percent for normal butane.

VOLUME COMPOSITION OF THE P-SERIES FUELS Constituent Pentanes plus MTHF Ethanol Normal Butane Regular 32.5 32.5 35.0 0 Premium 27.5 17.5 55.0 0 Cold Weather 16.0 26.0 47.0 11.0

Pure Energy Corporation claims that its P-series fuels are from 60 to 100 percent nonpetroleum, on an energy basis, depending on the source of the pentanes plus and n-butane components of the blends. The P-series fuels for flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) originally designed to operate on E-85 (85 percent ethanol/15 percent gasoline), on gasoline, or on any blend of those two fuels. A spark ignition motor fuel composition consisting essentially of a hydrocarbon component containing one or more hydrocarbons selected from five to eight carbon atoms straight-chained or branched alkanes essentially free of olefins, aromatics, benzene and sulfur, wherein the hydrocarbon component has a minimum anti-knock index of 65 as measured A method for lowering the vapor pressure of a hydrocarbon-alcohol blend by adding a co-solvent for the hydrocarbon and the alcohol to the blend the MTHF (manufactured from biomass feedstock) and the ethanol in the P-series fuels are non-petroleum. This includes isopentane, natural gasoline. Substantial Energy Security Benefits Pure Energy Corporation notes that each gallon of the P-series fuel directly displaces 0.88 gallons of RFG in vehicle use. Pure Energy Corporation also states that the energy required to produce a one gallon equivalent of the fuel is approximately 13,800 BTUs less than that required to produce one gallon of RFG. The process efficiency (BTUs produced per BTU of input) of the P-series fuels is approximately 2.25 when the ethanol is produced from renewable resources. The criteria pollutant emissions test results and the greenhouse gas analysis tend to support claim of substantial environmental benefits arising from the use of the P-series fuels. Criteria emissions from the P-series fuels were consistently among the lowest of all test fuels. P-series fuels had reduced emissions for ozone-forming potential (OFP), carbon monoxide and for air toxics. With regard to NOx emissions, P-series fuels will result in significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions when considered on a lifecycle basis. If the P-series fuels are produced from biomass, it is claimed that a significant percent of the carbon emissions associated with the gasoline life-cycle will be avoided. Regarding toxicity its P-series fuels appear to be less hazardous to human health than conventional gasoline. It is also claimed that the P-series fuels are not skin sensitizers and are non-mutagenic/genotoxic in

bacterial assays. ANLs evaluation of the full fuel cycle greenhouse gas emissions of the P-series fuels confirmed that, over their entire production, distribution and end-use cycle, the Pseries fuels will result in greenhouse gas emissions 45 to 50 percent below those of reformulated gasoline. These reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are possible ifthe ethanol component of the P-series fuels is made from biomass. WATER BASED FUELS : Beginning in 1987, Rudolf Gunnerman researched and developed water-based fuels. Gunnerman invented an emulsifier additive that allowed for the creation of fuel mixtures of alcohol and water, gasoline and water, diesel fuel and water, and water and naphtha. Rudolf Gunnerman trademarked his fuels under the name of A-55 Clean Fuels. Inventors like Gunnerman believe that one of the world's most common compounds good old tap water - can be blended with fuel to power your car, truck or lawn mower. If they're right, you could pay much less at the gas pump. Gunnerman claims to have devised a means to blend water with naphtha in order to power engines in a cleaner, cheaper, more efficient way. Water does not burn. Dissociating it into its hydrogen and oxygen parts to attain a burn takes as much - or more - energy than you'd receive. Ill.-based heavy- equipment manufacturer entered a joint venture with Gunnerman in 1994. Together, under the name Advanced Fuels, they've conducted experimental uses of the A-21 fuel - made up of 70 percent naphtha, a crudeoil byproduct, and 30 percent water. Gunner mans single-minded salesmanship has sparked wide interest among environmental agencies and regulators. The fuel, called A-55, is the brainchild of Rudolf W. Gunnerman, a Reno inventor who could easily be mistaken for the mad scientist in the movie back to the Future. He has spent 10 years and $25 million on the fuel, financing its development mainly with royalties from his other patents. Shadduck uses a clear, viscous emulsifier to suspend water within the fuel. Injecting the "magic bullet" into a container turns the water-fuel mixture milky white. Like Gunnerman, Shadduck reveals little about the biodegradable substance. Engineers have known for years that adding water to fuel brings benefits. Water was used in World War II for fueling aircraft. And in the

1970s, General Motors used a water-injection system for its Corvair model, keeping the water in a separate tank, said Dave Schwartz, spokesman for the Society of Automotive Engineers. The cooler burn produces fewer pollutants - especially Oxides of Nitrogen. Known as NOx, Oxides of Nitrogen are produced from elements in the air, in response to heat. "NOx is a big issue," the University of Minnesota's Kittelson said. "I think the motivation Caterpillar has is the concern about NOx emission. They're trying to get any possible technology for NOx control under their wing so they have options available to them. Faced with very stringent emissions standards that might materialize in the next century, you want to have all the technology." Plans for expansion: The Regional Transportation Commission in Reno has been running one of its Citifare buses on the A-21 fuel. Dick Cooper, said the company is hoping to extend use of its fuel to West Coast bus fleets including markets in California, Oregon and Seattle. They're estimating fuel costs of 60 to 65 cents per gallon for the naphtha blend, not including local, state and federal taxes. The Reno coach, equipped with the Detroit Diesel 277-horsepower engine, posted reduced emissions while using the A-21 fuel. Oxides of nitrogen and unburned hydrocarbons, two emissions that are precursors to smog, were below results with diesel fuel. And particulates, a carcinogen, were also reduced. Fuel use increased. Caterpillar teamed up with Gunnerman in 1994, after a Reno city bus had racked up 11,500 miles--with 20% better mileage than it got on diesel fuel. The claim that A-55 can boost mileage is a sticking point for skeptics. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Jerry D Jhonson, Abstract on Catalyzed lower alcohol-water based fuels. Department of Energy, Alternate fuel Transportation program by Dan W.Reicher.