5.1 Introduction................................................................................................ 129
5.2 Ethanol Production.................................................................................... 131
5.3 Ethanol Properties ..................................................................................... 134
5.4 Ethanol–Gasoline Engine Tests ............................................................... 138
5.4.1 Engine Dynamometer Tests ......................................................... 138
5.4.2 Engine Chassis Dynamometer Tests........................................... 142
5.5 Ethanol–Diesel Engine Tests .................................................................... 144
5.5.1 Fumigation...................................................................................... 146
5.5.2 Glow Plug Assisted Ignition ........................................................ 149
5.5.3 Cetane Enhanced Ethanol ............................................................ 151
5.5.4 Ethanol Blended with Diesel........................................................ 152
5.5.5 Exhaust Emissions with E-Diesel ................................................ 156
5.5.6 Engine Durability with E-Diesel ................................................. 159
5.6 Flexible Fuel Vehicles ................................................................................ 160
5.7 Ethanol Materials Compatibility ............................................................. 161
5.8 Ethanol Opportunities and Challenges.................................................. 162
References............................................................................................................. 163
5
Ethanol
Alan C. Hansen, Carroll E. Goering, and Arumugam Sakunthalai Ramadhas
CONTENTS
5.1 Introduction
Ethanol is an oxygenated fuel, produced from fermentation of biological
renewable resources such as molasses, sugar cane, or starch. Because of benefits associated with ethanol, some countries started using ethanol as a substitute for gasoline or diesel. Sustaining a clean environment has become
an important issue in an increasingly industrialized society. Ethanol was
deemed the “fuel of the future” by Henry Ford and has continued to be the
most popular alcohol-based fuel for several reasons including its production from renewable agricultural products and also because the incomplete
oxidation by-products of ethanol (acetic acid and acetaldehyde) are less toxic
than the incomplete oxidation by-products of other alcohols (Minteer 2006).
The use of ethanol for internal combustion engines was first investigated in
1897. However, ethanol utilization again picked up during fuel crises arising
129
5.2 Ethanol Production.................................................................................... 131
5.3 Ethanol Properties ..................................................................................... 134
5.4 Ethanol–Gasoline Engine Tests ............................................................... 138
5.4.1 Engine Dynamometer Tests ......................................................... 138
5.4.2 Engine Chassis Dynamometer Tests........................................... 142
5.5 Ethanol–Diesel Engine Tests .................................................................... 144
5.5.1 Fumigation...................................................................................... 146
5.5.2 Glow Plug Assisted Ignition ........................................................ 149
5.5.3 Cetane Enhanced Ethanol ............................................................ 151
5.5.4 Ethanol Blended with Diesel........................................................ 152
5.5.5 Exhaust Emissions with E-Diesel ................................................ 156
5.5.6 Engine Durability with E-Diesel ................................................. 159
5.6 Flexible Fuel Vehicles ................................................................................ 160
5.7 Ethanol Materials Compatibility ............................................................. 161
5.8 Ethanol Opportunities and Challenges.................................................. 162
References............................................................................................................. 163
5
Ethanol
Alan C. Hansen, Carroll E. Goering, and Arumugam Sakunthalai Ramadhas
CONTENTS
5.1 Introduction
Ethanol is an oxygenated fuel, produced from fermentation of biological
renewable resources such as molasses, sugar cane, or starch. Because of benefits associated with ethanol, some countries started using ethanol as a substitute for gasoline or diesel. Sustaining a clean environment has become
an important issue in an increasingly industrialized society. Ethanol was
deemed the “fuel of the future” by Henry Ford and has continued to be the
most popular alcohol-based fuel for several reasons including its production from renewable agricultural products and also because the incomplete
oxidation by-products of ethanol (acetic acid and acetaldehyde) are less toxic
than the incomplete oxidation by-products of other alcohols (Minteer 2006).
The use of ethanol for internal combustion engines was first investigated in
1897. However, ethanol utilization again picked up during fuel crises arising
129