NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Methanol fuel

Image File history File links Please see the file description page for further information. ... The methanol economy is a hypothetical future economy in which methanol has replaced fossil fuels as a means of transportation of energy. ... Gasoline on the left, alcohol on the right at a filling station in Brazil Rising energy prices and global warming have led to increased interest in alternative fuels. ...

Methyl alcohol, wood spirits, and Methanol

Methanol has been considered as a fuel, mainly in combination with gasoline. It has received less attention than ethanol, however, because it has a number of problems of its own. Its main advantage is that it can be easily manufactured from methane (the chief constituent of natural gas) as well as by pyrolysis of many organic materials. A problem with pyrolysis is that it is only economically feasible on an industrial scale, so it is not advisable to try to produce methanol from renewable resources like wood on a small (personal use) scale. Both methanol and ethanol burn at lower temperatures than gasoline, and both are less volatile, reducing the risk of explosion or flash fire. Methanol has about the same acute toxicity as gasoline, so similar precautions should be taken when handling it. It is much less carcinogenic than gasoline, and less harmful to the environment if spilled. Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, carbinol, wood alcohol, wood naptha or wood spirits, is a chemical compound with chemical formula CH3OH. It is the simplest alcohol, and is a light, volatile, colourless, flammable, poisonous liquid with a distinctive odor that is somewhat milder and sweeter than ethanol (ethyl alcohol). ... Grain alcohol redirects here. ... Methane is a chemical compound with the molecular formula CH4. ... Natural gas is a gaseous fossil fuel consisting primarily of methane but including significant quantities of ethane, butane, propane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, helium and hydrogen sulfide. ... Simple sketch of pyrolysis chemistry Pyrolysis usually means the chemical decomposition of organic materials by heating in the absence of oxygen or any other reagents, except possibly steam. ...

Methanol was discovered through pyrolysis of wood. Current technology can convert the synthesis gas generated by pyrolysis of biomass to create additional production of methanol. Simple sketch of pyrolysis chemistry Pyrolysis usually means the chemical decomposition of organic materials by heating in the absence of oxygen or any other reagents, except possibly steam. ...

The State of California ran an experimental program from 1980 to 1990 which allowed anyone to convert a gasoline vehicle to 85% methanol with 15% additives of choice. Over 500 vehicles were converted to high compression and dedicated use of the 85/15 methanol and ethanol, with great results. Detroit was not willing to produce any methanol or ethanol vehicles without government subsidy.

In 1982 the big three were each given $5,000,000 for design and contracts for 5,000 vehicles to be bought by the State. That was the beginning of the low compression "FLEX-FUEL" vehicles which we can still buy today.

In 2005 California's Governor, Arnold Schwarzeneger terminated the use of methanol (after 25 years and 200,000,000 miles of success, to join the expanding use of ethanol driven by producers of corn. Ethanol in currently (2007) priced at 3 to 4 dollars per gallon while methanol made from natural gas remains at 1 dollar per gallon.

Toxicity

Methanol is a toxic product; extensive exposure to it could lead to permanent health damage, including blindness. US maximum allowed exposure in air (40 h/week) are 1900 mg/m³ for ethanol, 900 mg/m³ for gasoline, and 260 mg/m³ for methanol. It is also quite volatile and therefore has a risk of fire and explosion. Besides the fire and explosion risk, volatility means evaporative emissions. Both in the atmosphere and in the liver, methanol is oxidized into two potent toxins: formaldehyde (used as a preservative for dead organic matter in laboratories), and formic acid (the poison found in ant stings). Catalytic converters would usually break down these two toxins in a manner similar to the sulfur, nitrogen, or carbon monoxide molecules which they normally dispose of if it were not for the fact that catalytic converters operate below the required temperature until the vehicle has gone 5 to 10 miles (10 to 15 km). The chemical compound formaldehyde (also known as methanal) is a gas with a pungent smell. ... Formic acid (systematically called methanoic acid) is the simplest carboxylic acid. ... In an automobiles exhaust system, a catalytic converter provides an environment for a chemical reaction where unburned hydrocarbons completely combust. ...

It is possible to overcome this environmental issue in two ways. Firstly, there is the very expensive option of adding more catalyst to the converter's aluminium honeycomb. But the catalysts themselves just happen to be the metals platinum, palladium, and rhodium - all of which are very rare and expensive to purchase. As an example, palladium costs about $200 per ounce, the equivalent of $3,200 per pound or £4,000 (€5,500) per kilogram. Also, platinum costs even more: $1,200 per ounce, $19,000 per pound, or $41,000 (£22,700 or €32,000 per kilogram.) And rhodium is the most expensive by a long way: $6,000 per ounce - that's $100,000 per pound, or $225,000 (£125,000 or €175,000) per kilo as of July 2006, 6 times as expensive as platinum. That is why catalytic converters contain so little catalyst: the catalysts themselves are too expensive to be used generously enough to be as effective as they were meant to be. General Name, Symbol, Number platinum, Pt, 77 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 10, 6, d Appearance grayish white Standard atomic weight 195. ... General Name, Symbol, Number palladium, Pd, 46 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 10, 5, d Appearance silvery white metallic Standard atomic weight 106. ... General Name, Symbol, Number rhodium, Rh, 45 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 9, 5, d Appearance silvery white metallic Atomic mass 102. ...

Alternatively, an electric heater (for home conversion, a glow plug from an old diesel engine) would serve to preheat the converter a bit more rapidly than an engine by itself would by idling for 5 or 10 minutes. The catalytic converter would still be operating below the required temperature for some time, but less than in an unmodified vehicle, thus cutting pollution levels significantly. Note that hybrid vehicles will be easier to modify this way because they already have battery systems that can supply sufficient power to heat the catalyst sufficiently, whereas conventional cars may need electrical modifications to enable this. See: Hybrid Vehicle ...

An additional problem of methanol is that its energy content is only 45% that of gasoline (75% of ethanol) by volume. (gasoline = 30 megajoules/litre, ethanol = 22-23 megajoules/litre, methanol = 16 megajoules/litre.)

In practice

Nevertheless, a drive to add a significant percentage of methanol to gasoline got very close to implementation in Brazil, following a pilot test set up by a group of scientists involving adding blending gasoline with methanol between 1989 and 1992. The larger-scale pilot experiment that was to be conducted in São Paulo was vetoed at the last minute by the city's mayor, out of concern for the health of gas station workers (who are mostly illiterate and could not be expected to follow safety precautions). As of 2006, the idea has not resurfaced. Landmark buildings EdifÃcio Italia (at left) and Copan (curved faÃ§ade at center), in SÃ£o Paulo Downtown. ... 2006 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Beginning in 1965, pure methanol was used in United States Auto Club competition for its series, which then included the Indianapolis 500. Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, carbinol, wood alcohol, wood naptha or wood spirits, is a chemical compound with chemical formula CH3OH. It is the simplest alcohol, and is a light, volatile, colourless, flammable, poisonous liquid with a distinctive odor that is somewhat milder and sweeter than ethanol (ethyl alcohol). ... ...

A seven-car crash on the second lap of the 1964 Indianapolis 500 resulted in USAC's decision to mandate methanol. Eddie Sachs and Dave MacDonald died in the crash when their gasoline-fueled cars exploded. The gasoline-triggered fire created a dangerous cloud of thick black smoke, which completely blocked the view of the track for oncoming cars. Johnny Rutherford, one of the other drivers involved, drove a methanol-fueled car which also leaked following the crash. While this car burned from the impact of the first fireball, it formed a much lesser inferno than the gasoline cars, and one that burned invisibly. That testimony, and pressure from Indianapolis Star writer George Moore, led to the switch to alcohol fuel in 1965. Results of the 1964 Indianapolis 500 held at Indianapolis on May 30, 1964. ... ... Eddie Sachs (May 28, 1927 - May 30, 1964) was a United States Auto Club driver who was known as the Clown Prince of Auto Racing for his personality at the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... Gasoline or petrol is a petroleum-derived liquid mixture consisting mostly of hydrocarbons and enhanced with benzene or iso-octane to increase octane ratings, used as fuel in internal combustion engines. ... Johnny Rutherford (born March 12, 1938 in Coffeyville, Kansas) was a U.S. automobile racer. ... The Indianapolis Star began publishing on June 6, 1903 and celebrated its 100th anniversary on June 6, 2003. ...

Methanol is currently used by the Champ Car circuit and many short track organizations, especially midget and sprint cars. Pure methanol was used by the IRL until the 2006 season. â€œCARTâ€ redirects here. ... The Indy Racing League, better known as IRL, is the sanctioning body of a predominantly American based open-wheel racing series. ...

In 2006, in partnership with the ethanol industry, the IRL used a mixture of 10% ethanol and 90% methanol as its fuel. For the 2007 season , the IRL will use pure ethanol, E100. [1] Grain alcohol redirects here. ... The Indy Racing League, better known as IRL, is the sanctioning body of a predominantly American based open-wheel racing series. ... also used for chesse Information on pump, California. ...

Methanol fuel is also used extensively in drag racing, primarily in the Top Alcohol category. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A European Top Alcohol dragster staging a burnout. ...

Formula One racing continues to use gasoline as its fuel. Formula One - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Gasoline or petrol is a petroleum-derived liquid mixture consisting mostly of hydrocarbons and enhanced with benzene or iso-octane to increase octane ratings, used as fuel in internal combustion engines. ...

See also

Image File history File links Portal. ... Gasoline on the left, alcohol on the right at a filling station in Brazil Rising energy prices and global warming have led to increased interest in alternative fuels. ... also used for chesse Information on pump, California. ... This is a list of energy topics which identifies articles and categories that relate to energy. ... Liquid fuels are those combustible or energy-generating molecules that can be harnessed to create mechanical energy, usually producing kinetic energy; they also must take the shape of their container. ... The methanol economy is a hypothetical future economy in which methanol has replaced fossil fuels as a means of transportation of energy. ... Oil crisis may refer to: 1973 oil crisis 1979 energy crisis 1990 spike in the price of oil Oil price increases of 2004 and 2005 Hubbert peak theory Energy crisis This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ... Apart from petroleum-derived gasoline and diesel, Ethanol is the main alcohol fuel used to run cars, other vehicles, and machinery. ...

External links

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Contents

Methyl alcohol, wood spirits, and Methanol GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Toxicity

In practice

See also

External links

Methyl alcohol, wood spirits, and Methanol