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Preface
able to reference a particular fuel that is of interest without having to read
other chapters to gain a full understanding of fuel technology.
Chapter 1 highlights the importance of moving the focus toward alternative
fuels and the problems resulting from dependence on petroleum products
and their environmental impacts. It outlines the parameters for the selection
of alternative fuels and the scenario of alternative fuel vehicles. Chapter 2
describes the characterization of vegetable oils and various methods for use
in diesel engines. The performance, emissions, and durability studies on diesel engines using vegetable oil–diesel blends and challenges posed by vegetable oils in engines are discussed. The necessity of the transesterification
process and the various methods to produce biodiesel from vegetable oils
are reviewed in Chapter 3. Biodiesel properties, testing methods, the effect
of properties on engines and emissions, engine performance, emissions and
durability, and the challenges posed by biodiesel are discussed in detail.
Chapters 4 and 5 discuss the use of alcohols in internal combustion
engines. The methods to produce alcohols, properties, ways to use alcohols
in gasoline and diesel engines, materials compatibility, safety aspects, and
challenges are reviewed. In Chapter 6, dimethyl ether production methods,
economics, fuel properties, its applications in the engine as well as domestic
applications, safety aspects, and its future scope are described.
Chapter 7 discusses the potential of liquefied petroleum gas, its production, properties, its use in gasoline and diesel engines, conversion kits, material compatibility, and safety aspects. The natural gas production, utilization,
properties, its storage, distribution, safety aspects, its usage in gasoline and
diesel engines, and natural gas advantages and disadvantages are discussed
in Chapter 8. In Chapter 9, clean fuel hydrogen production from various
sources; its properties; well-to-wheel analysis; safety; economics; hydrogenfueled spark ignition engines and compression ignition engines; hythane
engine; its storage in various forms such as liquid, solid, and gaseous; its
benefits; and challenges are all elaborated.
Zero emission vehicles are divided into three chapters: electric vehicles, fuel
cells, and hybrid vehicles. Chapter 10 details the construction and working
principle of the motor, battery, and controllers; solar panel–operated electric
vehicles, and the current scenario. In Chapter 11 the working principle, various types of fuel cells, fuel cell arrangement, fuel cell fueling systems, fuel
processing systems, technical issues, fuel cell vehicle configuration, and the
current scenario of the fuel cell market are discussed. Based on the available
energy sources, the battery electric vehicle and fuel cell electric vehicle cannot compete with the internal combustion engine vehicle in terms of driving range or initial cost. In the future, the hybrid electric vehicle (commonly
called the hybrid vehicle) is not only a major class of alternative fuel vehicles,
but also a practical solution for commercialization of super ultralow emission vehicles. Chapter 12 presents an overview of the latest hybrid vehicles,
with emphasis on their configurations, classification, and operations as well
as energy efficiency and environmental benefits.
Preface
able to reference a particular fuel that is of interest without having to read
other chapters to gain a full understanding of fuel technology.
Chapter 1 highlights the importance of moving the focus toward alternative
fuels and the problems resulting from dependence on petroleum products
and their environmental impacts. It outlines the parameters for the selection
of alternative fuels and the scenario of alternative fuel vehicles. Chapter 2
describes the characterization of vegetable oils and various methods for use
in diesel engines. The performance, emissions, and durability studies on diesel engines using vegetable oil–diesel blends and challenges posed by vegetable oils in engines are discussed. The necessity of the transesterification
process and the various methods to produce biodiesel from vegetable oils
are reviewed in Chapter 3. Biodiesel properties, testing methods, the effect
of properties on engines and emissions, engine performance, emissions and
durability, and the challenges posed by biodiesel are discussed in detail.
Chapters 4 and 5 discuss the use of alcohols in internal combustion
engines. The methods to produce alcohols, properties, ways to use alcohols
in gasoline and diesel engines, materials compatibility, safety aspects, and
challenges are reviewed. In Chapter 6, dimethyl ether production methods,
economics, fuel properties, its applications in the engine as well as domestic
applications, safety aspects, and its future scope are described.
Chapter 7 discusses the potential of liquefied petroleum gas, its production, properties, its use in gasoline and diesel engines, conversion kits, material compatibility, and safety aspects. The natural gas production, utilization,
properties, its storage, distribution, safety aspects, its usage in gasoline and
diesel engines, and natural gas advantages and disadvantages are discussed
in Chapter 8. In Chapter 9, clean fuel hydrogen production from various
sources; its properties; well-to-wheel analysis; safety; economics; hydrogenfueled spark ignition engines and compression ignition engines; hythane
engine; its storage in various forms such as liquid, solid, and gaseous; its
benefits; and challenges are all elaborated.
Zero emission vehicles are divided into three chapters: electric vehicles, fuel
cells, and hybrid vehicles. Chapter 10 details the construction and working
principle of the motor, battery, and controllers; solar panel–operated electric
vehicles, and the current scenario. In Chapter 11 the working principle, various types of fuel cells, fuel cell arrangement, fuel cell fueling systems, fuel
processing systems, technical issues, fuel cell vehicle configuration, and the
current scenario of the fuel cell market are discussed. Based on the available
energy sources, the battery electric vehicle and fuel cell electric vehicle cannot compete with the internal combustion engine vehicle in terms of driving range or initial cost. In the future, the hybrid electric vehicle (commonly
called the hybrid vehicle) is not only a major class of alternative fuel vehicles,
but also a practical solution for commercialization of super ultralow emission vehicles. Chapter 12 presents an overview of the latest hybrid vehicles,
with emphasis on their configurations, classification, and operations as well
as energy efficiency and environmental benefits.