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Enhancement of methanol combustion in a direct injected Diesel engine using catalytically coated glow plugs was examined for platinum and palladium catalysts and compared to a non-catalytic baseline case. Experiments were performed for 6 and 10 brake Kilowatts (bKW) at 2500 rpm. Comparisons were made based on combustion, performance, and emissions including carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), unburned hydrocarbons (UHC), unburned methanol (UBM), and aldehydes. Results show a decrease in glow plug temperature of 100 K is achievable using platinum catalysts, and 150 K for palladium. Furthermore, the palladium catalyst was found to provide better combustion characteristics than the platinum catalyst. Also, the use of both catalysts produced lower aldehyde emissions, and the palladium reduced NOx emissions as well. However, unburned methanol increased for both catalytic glow plugs with respect to the non-catalytic case.

Arthur D. Little in conjunction with the Department of Energy and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs are developing an ethanol fuel processor for fuel cell vehicles. Initial studies were carried out on a 25 kWe catalytic partial oxidation (POX) reformer to determine the effect of equivalence ratio, steam to carbon ratio, and residence time on ethanol conversion. Results of the POX experiments show near equilibrium yields of hydrogen and carbon monoxide for an equivalence ratio of 3.0 with a fuel processor efficiency of 80%. The size and weight of the prototype reformer yield power densities of 1.44 l/kW and 1.74 kg/kW at an estimated cost of $20/kW.

Industrial grade ethanol, in concentrations ranging from 130 proof to 200 proof, can be used as a feedstock for a 50kWe advanced fuel processor developed by Arthur D. Little, Inc. for fuel cell vehicles. At 180 proof concentration, hydrated ethanol showed no performance degradation compared with both 200 proof (pure) ethanol and E95 (95% ethanol and 5% gasoline) at equivalence ratios ranging from 3.0 to 4.0. Environmental benefits associated with the use of ethanol in fuel cell power systems include its production from renewable biological sources, low toxicity in the event of an accidental spill, and recycling of carbon dioxide released by the process back to the plant matter used as ethanol feedstock. Cost savings associated with the use of hydrated ethanol are expected to include lower production costs, lower distribution costs, and lower powerplant costs due to the possibility of system simplification.