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With the vitality and economic growth of the U.S. being linked to affordable transportation, the use of alternative fuels is beginning to play a larger role. The use "alternative fuel" has been used to describe any fuel suggested for use in transportation vehicles other than gasoline or diesel. Since 1998, more than half of the petroleum the U.S. economy requires has been supplied by imports. In addition, the climatological and scientific community has warned that increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will cause global change. Alternative Fuels examines the accepted alternative fuels, providing historical background, physical and chemical properties, production technology, and forecasts for each fuel. Alternative transportation fuels addressed include: methanol, ethanol, propane, natural gas, biodiesel, hydrogen, and electricity. Chapters include: The Argument for Alternative Fuels Methanol Ethanol Propane Natural Gas Electricity and more

This book presents the fundamentals needed to understand the physical and chemical properties of alternative fuels, and how they impact refueling system design and the modification of existing garages for safety. It covers a wide range of fuels including alcohols, gases, and vegetable oils. Chapters cover: Alternative Fuels and Their Origins Properties and Specifications Materials Compatibility Storage and Dispensing Refueling Facility Installation and Garage Facility Modifications and more

A 1979 8V-71 model DDC two-stroke diesel transit bus engine was tested using ignition-improved methanol and ethanol. The testing was conducted using the Environmental Protection Agency heavy duty engine transient test procedure. The methanol and ethanol fuels were found to have very similar combustion characteristics and required the same percentage of ignition improver (7.5 volume percent) to obtain similar peak cylinder pressures and rates of pressure rise as were observed using diesel fuel. Emissions increased rapidly as the percentage of ignition improver was reduced below the optimum determined. Ignition-improved methanol and ethanol can greatly reduce fuel-produced particulate emissions with the trade-off of a small increase in total unburned fuel emissions. Carbon monoxide emissions were found to be dependent on stoichiometry only and not fuel type.

The concept of using alcohol fuels as alternatives to diesel fuel in diesel engines is a recent one. The scarcity of transportation petroleum fuels which developed in the early 1970's spurred many efforts to find alternatives. Alcohols were quickly recognized as prime candidates to displace or replace high octane petroleum fuels. However, alternatives to the large demand for diesel fuel in many countries were not as evident. Innovative thinking led to various techniques by which alcohol fuels can partially or completely displace diesel fuel in diesel transportation vehicles. The methods of using alcohol fuels in diesel engines (in order of increasing diesel fuel displacement) include solutions, emulsions, fumigation, dual injection, spark ignition, and ignition improvers. Power output, thermal efficiency and exhaust emissions can change significantly depending on the techniques employed. Reliability and durability still need to be demonstrated for most of these techniques.